Musharraf warns of Iraq strike fallout

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf yesterday warned that a U.S. military attack on Iraq would have "negative repercussions" in the Muslim world and further alienate it.

In a BBC interview, Musharraf said Pakistan's support to the U.S.-led war on terrorism "doesn't mean we can start participating in activities all around the world."

"We've got too much on our hands here in this region to get involved in anything else, especially when one is very conscious that this (a U.S. attack on Iraq) will have really negative repercussions around the Islamic world."

"I think it will alienate the Islamic world more," the president said.

"It's already dangerous that all political disputes at the moment all around the world are, unfortunately, involving Muslims, and Muslims are feeling that they are on the receiving end everywhere," he said.

Musharraf said feelings within Pakistan against the United States would "increase certainly" in case of an attack on Iraq.

About the situation in Afghanistan, Musharraf said the Al Qaida of Osama bin Landen did not have the ability to rebuild itself there. "I think they've been dealt with very strongly, and I don't think they can develop an infrastructure of the kind that existed, especially when a stable government is in Afghanistan."

Asked if he thought Pakistan had done enough to help the United States flush out supporters of the Al Qaida terrorist network in his country, Musharraf said, "We are certainly assisting (the United States) all the way, we have suffered casualties and in fact the successes that have been met in getting Al Qaida people are mainly by Pakistan."

Asked about the fate of Osama bin Laden, Musharraf said: "My guess till now is that, more likely, he's dead. But again it's a guess. I can't say."

Musharraf acknowledged that Al Qaida fugitives were in Pakistan, but he pointed out that their presence was not widespread. "To a degree it causes anxiety because they (Al Qaida) are coming into the cities. That is bad because they carry out destabilisation, so yes, this is a worrisome act.

"But I don't think it's widespread. I think they are more on the borders if at all they are there. I can't specify their involvement in the terrorist acts."

The president said the extremist elements in Pakistan did not pose any threat to his government.

"They are just extremists, they can undertake extremist acts but the forthcoming elections will prove that they have no place in politics. They are not supported by the public at large."

Musharraf also rejected claims that he had introduced constitutional amendments to grab more powers ahead of the October elections.

"Not at all, this is total misperception of whatever I am trying to do", he said. He defended the National Security Council which will be set up after the elections under the amendments that also empower the president to dismiss the National Assembly.

"If I was to take power for myself, as a person, I would not make the National Security Council," he said. "I would just remove the 13th amendment and I would have the power to dismiss the assembly. Why would I want 12 people to sit with me and decide that?" he asked.

The President said that he was not a permanent feature of this country. Somebody else is going to become President some time in future who may be an impulsive man, over-reacting at times.

So it was an endeavor to address such issues keeping in mind the environment in Pakistan that these amendments were evolved, he said.

Asked why Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto are not allowed to come back and face the people to decide their fate, he said the people "have already decided it and no further experiment is affordable".

Responding to a question on Kashmir he said: "I have said that nothing is happening across the Line of Control." He emphasised that there has to be some progress or movement on the Kashmir issue and reciprocation from the Indian side.