Islamabad: Former Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharraf has said that those fighting in Indian Administrated Kashmir were mujahideen (holy warriors), having support in Pakistan and Kashmir.
“We call them mujahideen. They have got support both in Kashmir and Pakistan,” Mr Musharraf said.
He said in the face of ‘brutalities in Kashmir’ outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed popped up with an aim to fight and give up their lives for ‘Kashmiri brothers and sisters.’ In an interview with BBC Urdu, the former military ruler said the ‘freedom fighters’ were not Taliban or terrorists. “Instead they are our mujahideen and freedom fighters,” he added.
Mr Musharraf said, “I was heading in the direction of resolving Kashmir issue as it is a golden opportunity when heads of two states do have similar approach.” The former dictator said he and then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had then agreed that ‘atrocities in Kashmir’ should end.
“(PM Narendra) Modi just wants to twist and subdue Pakistan. He needs to change his approach as things won’t move forward if he does not do so,” he warned. Mr Musharraf also criticized the government and the bureaucracy for not providing the support army requires for implementing National Action Plan (NAP).
