No understanding with US over airstrikes, Musharraf says

Islamabad: Breaking his silence but after relinquishing power, former president Pervez Musharraf has made it clear that there was no secret understanding with United States to stage cross border attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan in search of Al Qaida and Taiban fugitives.

"Pakistan has done more than anyone else in war against terror and the United States should not ask us to do more in war on terror," the former president told media at the Islamabad airport before his departure to the US, where he will meet friends and relatives as well as deliver lectures at various universities and think-tanks.

Resignation

This is Musharraf's second visit abroad since his resignation as president of the country in August last year, when the then ruling coalition threatened to impeach him.

In November, Musharraf undertook a visit to Britain to meet friends amidst calls from opposition parties to try him in the court of law for imposing emergency on November 2, 2007, deposing apex court judges, and other alleged extra constitutional steps throughout his eight-and- a-half-year stint in power.

It was during Musharraf's rule that US Drones starting striking targets inside Pakistani territory. Pakistan under Musharraf kept mum during initial attacks in its tribal areas, which gave credence to Western media reports that Islamabad had a secret pact with Washington regarding these cross border strikes.

Opposition parties, especially the religious right, had bitterly opposed Musharraf's decision to side with the US in the aftermath of 9/11 and the cooperation extended in years to follow.

A majority of Pakistanis, according to local and foreign surveys, consider the "war on terror" to be against Pakistan's interests.

Musharraf meanwhile warned India not to talk about surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

"Pakistan is ready to cope with any Indian adventure with full force," he asserted. Answering a question regarding the post-Mumbai terror attack situation, he said the attacks created war hysteria in India and Pakistan.

Musharraf, considered to be the brain behind the Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan in 1998, resorted to peace overtures between the South Asian neighbours throughout his stint in power, but with little results. Despite many concessions offered from the Pakistani side, there was no headway in resolving the Kashmir dispute.

He was widely criticised by all sections of the Pakistani society.

Musharraf added that the root causes of terrorism needed to be addressed, and now was the time to resolve the Kashmir and Palestine disputes.