[lbo-talk] Nurturing Taliban a mistake, says Benazir

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The Hindu
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Friday, Apr 27, 2007

International

Nurturing Taliban a mistake, says Benazir
http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/27/stories/2007042702401600.htm

Nirupama Subramanian
Deal with Musharraf a credibility risk but unavoidable

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto has admitted for
the first time that her Government made the mistake of nurturing the
Taliban, but said a "deal" with President Pervez Musharraf would help combat
extremism and restore democracy in Pakistan, and that she is prepared to
risk her credibility for this.

The PPP chairperson was speaking on Tuesday at the London School of
Economics on the situation in Pakistan.

The Dawn reported that to a question on the damage to her credibility if she
did a deal with the Musharraf regime, Ms. Bhutto agreed with the assessment
of the questioner but said the restoration of democracy and saving the
country from falling into the hands of extremists was more important.
To another question, Ms. Bhutto made the surprising admission that it was
her Government's mistake to "encourage and promote" the Taliban because at
that time, it was believed to be a "peaceful and stabilising alternative" to
the warring Mujahideen factions in Afghanistan.

She was harshly critical of the present Government and ruling party in
Pakistan, blaming it, the army, the ISI and the right-wing religious
coalition, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, for the "talibanisation" of the country,
but did not mention Gen. Musharraf.

Without ousting the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) and its allies
from power, the war against terrorism would never be won, she said. She came
down on the Government for not seriously pursuing reforms of the madrassa
system, and allowing the MMA and militant organisations to operate freely in
the country, while marginalising moderate political forces.

But she also retained one foot in the Opposition camp. She said her party,
Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Mulsim league (N) and other parties in the Alliance
for the Restoration of Democracy were united on their "one-point goal of
closing the doors for ever on army take-overs".

She said there was only one way to combat extremism and that was to allow
moderate political parties to function unhindered.

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