Musharraf rates Manmohan highly, defends criticism

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Dec 7: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that he rated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "highly" but defended criticising him in his recent book, saying he was "only being truthful".

At the same time, he admitted that his remarks about the "drag of the establishment" applied equally to his own country.

In an interview to NDTV, excerpts from which will be telecast tomorrow night, Gen Musharraf also said that the intelligence agencies of both countries had "done nothing other than harming each other" for 50 years.

Asked about his impressions about Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Gen Musharraf said he respected her because she was a "person for peace".

He felt Ms Gandhi should put her weight behind Dr Singh to help resolve the disputes between India and Pakistan.

Gen Musharraf also rated Jawaharlal Nehru as the "best Indian Prime Minister ever".

In his book, the Pakistan President has said a lot of nice things about Dr Singh but is critical of him in one place.

According to the book, "the initial signs of sincerity and flexibility in Manmohan Singh seem to be withering away. I think the Indian establishment, diplomats, intelligence agencies, and perhaps even the military have gotten the better of him. I feel that if a leader is to get away from hackneyed ideas and frozen positions we have to be bold." He told the interviewer, Dr Prannoy Roy, that he had tried to make the book as truthful as possible and felt he must express his feelings.

He said that there was a "drag of the establishment" in both countries.

"Our intelligence -- through out -- for 50 years, sir, have done nothing other than harming each other. We must know that," he said."And also foreign office for 50 years have been following a certain line against India ... and so have you been following a certain line against Pakistan." "It's hackneyed. You come up with a new idea and they will shoot it down straight. First response.shoot it down," he said. According to him such inertia has to be broken to move forward. "And that you can do only when you impose your will on them," he added.

Gen Musharraf said he was keen on Dr Singh visiting Pakistan at the earliest. "I would like him to come tomorrow." At the same time, he agreed with Dr Singh that the visit must take place only if it promised to be substantive. "What is the use of visits if you don't make it substantive.

There are issues involved. Let's make it an important visit." He felt the visit should produce "some breakthrough" in the ties between the two countries, "if not a big breakthrough".

He said as the host he would like to take Dr Singh to any part of Pakistan that he wanted to go to. In particular, he would love to take him to Gah, the village where Dr Singh was born, Gen Musharraf said.

The Pakistan President said that the establishment in his country, including the foreign office and the intelligence, was totally with him on India-Pakistan issues. "There is no opposition," he said.

"Let me assure you on India-Pakistan...whether it's Kashmir, Siachen or Sir Creek. The establishment here is totally on board for a solution and we know what the solution is. We are open," he said.

On Dr Singh, Gen Musharraf said, "I rate him high. I respect him. He is a good man. He is a sincere man. He wants peace and I rate him high." Asked about Ms Gandhi, he said he did not know her much. "I think she is a nice person...She is again a person for peace so I admire her and I respect her." "I would say that she should put her weight behind resolution of disputes. Because if she puts her weight behind and Prime Minster Manmohan Singh obviously gets strengthened I think we can resolve disputes and bring permanent peace and it has so much advantage," he said.

Asked to rate Pakistani leaders after Mr Jinnah, Gen Musharraf felt Gen Ayub Khan was the best, given the many achievements Pakistan notched up during his tenure, including the Green Revolution and industrial development."For India, Jawaharlal Nehru was the best," he added.


UNI

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