Nawaz should reach out to President-elect Donald Trump: Musharraf
Trump not well-versed in political dynamics of region, has yet to formulate a strategy: Musharraf
ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) - The Former President said in an exclusive interview at “Tonight with Moeed Pirzada” that the new President elect Donald Trump is not well-versed with political dynamics of the region and has yet to formulate a strategy Vis-à-vis South Asia. This is a golden opportunity for Pakistan, the Prime Minister needs to step up and build an immediate liaison with the President-elect. The new administration, he said, has people have positive views of Pakistan and this is the time for lobbying.
India, he said, wants to maintain hedge-money in the region. India sees itself as a future economic giant not only in the region, but in the world. India wants to isolate Pakistan not only economically but also diplomatically.
The India caucus in the US Senate is more vigilant and proactive; Pakistan needs to derive an effective strategy as well to counter the Indian narratives in the US circles.
Regarding the Civil-Military divide, he said that India has exploited this fault-line of the Pakistani political spectra, especially the PML-N regimes. There has always been a rift between the army chiefs and the incumbent government in the PML(N) regimes; General Raheel deserves an extension, he said.
I still enjoy cordial relations with former President Bush and this impression that he worked with Asif Zardari to outset me is completely false.
He said that only power is the power of the people. The people of Pakistan need a change. They want a more honest and committed leadership. The current government has failed to address the issues of the common man. There is no check and balance, the government is using its machinery to intimidate the bureaucracy and they sure know how to manipulate judiciary and other sacred institutions for their own intents and purposes.
In a recent interview with Dunya News, he admitted to having foreign accounts and assets which he had claimed to have received from former King Abdullah. He justified that he only got the money after stepping down from Presidency. So his case cannot be weighed with that of Nawaz Sharif and his family.
“Pakistan Tehreek I Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan needs to learn, which he is not ready to and that is the reason that he has been failing so far. Yes, he has a charisma through which he attracts huge crowds but fails to translate it into tangible votes.”
“Imran Khan bragged about the 2nd November lock-down and had claimed that he will gather huge crowds, but then he took a U-Turn and called it off. If he had already known that there was going to be resistance, why did he not formulate an effective counter strategy? I did not give him the title of U-Turn Khan but he actually proved himself to be so”.
MQM, he said, is a different entity than the Muhajir community. “Karachi politics is changing, Altaf Hussein is history now and he needs to accept it. The rift between Mustafa Kamal and Farooq Sattar will continue to persist. There is a vacuum which I think needs to be filled through an honest and committed leadership for the Muhajirs, I have love and strong sentiments for the Muhajir community.
The General said that he had previously rooted for Gen. Raheel because he is a popular Army Chief.
“Pakistan comes first. The four candidates for the army Chief slot are competent and patriotic officers. I’m sure they will serve the flag first and foremost”
