Surprisingly i liked mush’s approach , very direct and precise. Good to see that in parliment for a change.
Neglecting Australia has cost Pakistan: Musharraf
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says Pakistan has lost out because its economic and political relationship with Australia has been neglected.
General Musharraf, who is the first leader of Pakistan to visit Australia, has addressed the National Press Club in Canberra.
“I think we have been the losers,” he said.
“We have a lot of catching up to do in all fields of political relationship and economic and commercial ties.”
General Musharraf says Australia’s help in areas such as mining and food processing will lift the standard of living of Pakistanis and help in the fight against terrorism.
He will have talks tomorrow with Prime Minister John Howard and witness the signing of a counter-terrorism agreement between Australia and Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Pakistan is a key partner for Australia in the fight against terrorism.
“That memorandum of understanding will lead to further cooperation in areas like law enforcement, information exchanges, exchanges on financial operations, border control … and so on,” Mr Downer said.
Koran abuse
General Musharraf has also told the National Press Club that the reported desecration of the Koran by United States soldiers at Guantanamo Bay has contributed to the negative Muslim view of the West.
He says the incident has had a terrible fallout.
“I only hope that the perpetrators of this are punished,” he said.
"Such kind of intolerance, when we call the Muslim society intolerant, this is an extremely intolerant act.
“One can’t imagine a Muslim desecrating a bible.”
General Musharraf has also told the press club that he believes Osama bin Laden is still alive and sympathisers are probably helping to hide him in Pakistan.
General Musharraf says the mountainous terrain has made it difficult for troops to penetrate all areas but he says progress has been made.
The President says he wants to resolve the Kashmir dispute with India before he leaves office.
He says he has told India’s Prime Minister, Manmoham Singh, that they should get an agreement on Kashmir during their time as leaders.
“Because we have developed a kind of understanding between ourselves,” he said.
“There won’t be a guarantee that future leaders will have the same understanding so therefore we need to resolve the dispute within our time schedule.”
General Musharraf says that under Pakistan’s constitution he is in power until 2007, and he will decide his political future closer to that date.