NEW YORK: Former president Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said India was trying to create a hostile state in Afghanistan as he hit back at criticism of his country’s role in fighting extremists.
Musharraf, who is touring the United States as part of a comeback bid, said he has seen photographs of Kabul-based “Pakistan terrorists” – a likely reference to Balochistan separatists – meeting in India with intelligence agents.
“If I’m allowed to be very, very frank, India’s role in Afghanistan is to create an anti-Pakistan Afghanistan,” he said at the Council on Foreign Relations.
“This is very clear to me. There are consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad (which) are actually involved in creating trouble in Pakistan. They have no other role,” Musharraf said.
Musharraf bristled at criticism that Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders have been able to escape into Tribal Areas.