Former Pakistan President and All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief General (r) Pervez Musharraf met senior US congress and senate members during his visit to Washington DC.
Musharraf met Senate Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Carl Levin, Foreign Relations Committee member Senator Richard Lugar, Intelligence Committee member Senator Saxby Chambliss, Armed Services Committee member Senator Lindsay Graham and Senator John McCain. During the meetings, Musharraf said US suspicion of the Pakistan Army and ISI against extremism and terrorism was misplaced. He said the US must address Pakistan’s concerns on Afghanistan stability after the US withdrawal in 2014.
He said the US must check the Indian influence in Afghanistan. He agreed that Pakistan should clarify it position on not acting against the Haqqani network in North Waziristan. He agreed no one should be allowed to use Pakistan as a launching pad for attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan.
He said the present Pakistani government was dysfunctional and the two main political parties, PPP and PML-N, had failed to deliver. He said another political alternative was needed and such required free, fair and transparent elections. He claimed this is only possible if the forthcoming elections are held under the supervision of the Pakistan Army.