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US Afghanistan pullout would be ‘disastrous’: Musharraf

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: It would be “disastrous” for the US to pull out of Afghanistan prematurely, USA Today cited former president Pervez Musharraf as saying.

The Americans need to prepare for the likelihood that more US troops will be needed in Afghanistan and that they will be there many years, the former president said in Iowa on Saturday. If the Taliban are allowed to return to power, he said, it would surely allow Al Qaeda to regain their strength in Afghanistan, destabilising the region and posing a major threat to the US.

He said the only solution was for international troops, led by the US, to establish military dominance in Afghanistan and gain the trust of the Afghan people so a long-term political solution could be found.

Musharraf waved off questions about how long it would take to stabilise Afghanistan.

“We need to obtain objectives. When we lay down timing, it becomes very counterproductive.” Musharraf said.

When asked whether he believed Osama Bin Laden was in Pakistan’s mountains, he replied, “Your guess is as good or as bad as mine. Although Al Qaeda is more a symbol now,” he said. He said the US should help settle long-standing disputes such as Palestine and Kashmir to build up support among Muslim countries.

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