Musharraf calls Nawaz Sharif 'closet Taliban'

Washington, Mar.16 (ANI): Taking his animosity with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif a step further, former President General Pervez Musharraf has described him as a 'closet Taliban.'

Talking to reporters after delivering a lecture at Seattle, United States, Musharraf said Sharif was a threat to the stability of Pakistan, media reports said.

However, organisers of the event have denied reports regarding Musharraf calling Sharif a 'closet Taliban.'

"He did not say anything of the sort. He did not utter these words at any event in Seattle," The Dawn quoted Rizwan Nasr, a member of the executive board of the Friends of Pakistan, which had organised Musharraf's visit to the US city, as saying.

Musharraf also reportedly called for enhanced efforts for establishing peace between India and Pakistan.

"We must stop this confrontation between India and Pakistan... We must go for peace for the sake of the world, because the world considers us to be a nuclear flashpoint," The Seattle Times quoted Musharraf, as saying.

He rejected India's stance regarding Pakistan supporting terrorist activities in the inside its geographical boundaries, he accused New Delhi of "hyper reactions" following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Musharraf, who has been living in London on an unannounced exile, has been on an extended lecture tour of the US and Europe since stepping down in August 2008.

When asked that whether he would be returning to Pakistan for another stint or not, Musharraf reiterated that he would do so if the people of the country wanted him and if he garners enough public support.

"If I have to just go there and join a political fray and be involved in accusations and counter-accusations ... like most of the politicians are doing...I am not interested in that kind of politics," Musharraf said. (ANI)