Islamabad, May 11: In a new revelation, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the CIA of the United States and his country’s ISI together created the Taliban.
“I think it was part of your past and our past, and the ISI and CIA created them together,” Zardari told a television news channel in an interview.
In the interview, which was given on 7th May, Zardari also accused the US of supporting the military rule of Pervez Musharraf who was alleged to be taking sides of the Taliban.
He disagreed with the popular belief in the US that the Pakistan military and intelligent services still have sympathies for the Taliban.
“I think General Musharraf may have had a mindset to run head and hand with the hound but certainly not on our watch. We don’t have a tough process at all,” Zardari said.
Asked about the influential role of the Pakistan Army, Zardari said he is in control of everything in the country, including the military.
“The Parliament has final say. It’s the Parliament form of government, and I am a product of the Parliament,” he said.
Earlier, Zardari in an another interview had said that India was not a “threat” to his country and that Pakistan had moved some of its forces from its Indian border to western frontier to eliminate Taliban in its tribal belt.
Zardari says his government will eliminate Taliban
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that his government was determined to eliminate Taliban militants from the region but promised to make every effort to keep collateral damage to the minimum.
Addressing mainly Pakistani Americans in New York, Zardari expressed the hope that they would be able to find a solution while fighting extremism.
“We don’t want to make one million dead,” he said, while citing the killings that took place in the anti-terror operations in Algiers and in Afghanistan, among other countries.
Zardari likened the al-Qaeda with a monster and sought international support in eliminating it. The monster had bit Pakistan, it bit the US and also the world at large, he said.
Zardari said he would do his utmost so that Pakistan reaches its full potential. “We have to come together and save Pakistan. Democracy was a part of the solution and a starting points to resolving all the problems facing the country.”
Pakistan, he said, needs 10 years of peace and sustained international economic support to reach its full potential. The government, he said, was working hard towards that end.
Referring to his talks with President Barack Obama and other administration officials and congressional leaders in Washington, he said they have now a better understanding of Pakistan’s point of view.
The visit, he said, was successful. He could speak to them with confidence as the elected leader of Pakistan and who has the confidence of nation’s parliament.
About drone attacks, the President said he has asked the Obama administration to provide Pakistan with the technology and Pakistan would itself take action against the militants. But he said the talks were ongoing and no decision has yet been taken.
—-Agencies