Speaking to an overflow audience at the Baker Institute July 11, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, former president of Pakistan, said the recent U.S. decision to suspend military assistance to Pakistan would be counterproductive. “It is not in the interest not only of Pakistan, but also not in the interest of the United States, I think. If Pakistan is weakened, how do you fight terrorism?” he asked.
Musharraf blamed the latest downturn in U.S.-Pakistani relations on a lack of U.S. sensitivity to and awareness of Pakistani interests. He cited concerns that the United States is not actively pressuring India to resolve the Kashmir dispute. And attacks inside Pakistan by unmanned U.S. drone aircraft, along with the clandestine operation to assassinate Osama bin Laden in May, have stoked fears in Pakistan that the United States does not respect Pakistani sovereignty, according to Musharraf.
You can read the Rice News article about Gen. Musharraf’s address or view a video clip of his comments about U.S. aid. Below is the entire webcast of his remarks at the Baker Institute.