New Delhi: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said his country might send troops to Iraq as part of the stabilisation forces in the war-ravaged country.
“Yes, we may, we would like to send,” Gen Musharraf said in an interveiw to NDTV when asked if his country would commit troops to Iraq. However, he said Pakistan needed to know certain parameters on the troop deployment.
On whether Pakistan was part of the global war against terror, Gen Musharraf, who is scheduled to meet US President George W Bush at Camp David later this month, replied in the affirmative.
On the opposition demand that he resign as the Army Chief or as President, Gen Musharraf said the issue had to be resolved satisfactorily.
“I do believe that one person should not hold two posts. But I am holding it till we establish the democracy we are talking about. In the process, I don’t want to destabilise Pakistan. So, therefore, I will continue in unfirom. But once these institutions come and start performing their roles…separation of the Presidency from the uniform must be ensured and I will do it.”
He, however, stated that there was no deadline for this.
utd, I believe that the US and UK first asked Pakistan back in April to send troops to Iraq, very soon after the fall of the Saddam regime. In fact Pakistan was one of the first countries to be asked to send troops to Iraq as part of a international UN-sanctioned force. Here is a story from April on that request:-
With Saudi Arabia also reportedly asking for Pakistani troops to be stationed there, it seems that Pakistan is carving out quite an important role in the region.
pakistan is not getting 10% of what it deserves for the chamcha giri that its doing. i hope genral sahab will get something more than peanuts this time
by the way pakistani troops have excelled in thier peace keeping operations world wide they are doing superb work in seira leon
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*Originally posted by nomaan: *
pakistanis should stay home on this one. i don't want to read about a dead peace keeper a day..
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I've already said more or less the same thing previously. This isn't a mess of Pakistan's making so I'd say it's too dangerous an undertaking. Pakistan doesn't get the credit it deserves for it's role as UN peacekeepers so there's little point.
President Musharraf and President Bush discussed deployment of Pakistani Troops in Iraq today @ Camp David. In an interview with Ted Koppel, President Musharraf said Pakistan could send around 6,000-8, 000 troops (A division of 2 brigades) to Iraq to help secure the stability. If that happens, Pakistan will be the first Muslim country to send its troops.
I think it's good idea. Pakistan must do it on the basis of something like Oil Agreement. Also, the point shared by Matsui would be a good message to the Muslim World that Iraq War wasn't a War against Islam.
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*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
President Musharraf and President Bush discussed deployment of Pakistani Troops in Iraq today @ Camp David. In an interview with Ted Koppel, President Musharraf said Pakistan could send around 6,000-8, 000 troops (A division of 2 brigades) to Iraq to help secure the stability. If that happens, Pakistan will be the first Muslim country to send its troops.
I think it's good idea. Pakistan must do it on the basis of something like Oil Agreement. Also, the point shared by Matsui would be a good message to the Muslim World that Iraq War wasn't a War against Islam.
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Pakistani Tiger, I suggest you read what praise our troops got in the past for doing similar thing, or read extremes post...
PT is right and Musharraf, in principal, has already agreed to sending troops to Iraq, 3000-4000 in numbers (he is only discussing modalities in the US). He said so in an interview to ABCNews.
With 6 British troops being killed yesterday and a steady stream of American casualties I would say that it will be a big price to pay. At least the Americans and the British are going to get their money's worth from the revenues created by the Iraq invasion. The only scenario I can think of where it would make sense to send Pakistani soldiers would be if we get well re-compensed and if it could be shown that we were welcome in Iraq. Also efforts would need to be made from Pakistanis at all levels of Government and media to promote the role and sacrifices made by the troops to a far greater degree than in the past. Otherwise forget it.
Salams Zaavia! It's been awhile since you have posted, I hope everything is well!
Anyway Mods should turn this into a vote. Personally, if deployed I think it would be a mistake to involve Pakistani troops in the Central zone of Iraq especially, but Northern Iraq and perhaps a limited presence in Southern Iraq would not be a bad idea. And those troops deployed should be non combatant forces like Medical and Engineering.
Hello, everybody I am a new member wishing all of you-our past track record shows that pakistani army has performed well as peace keepers. This time, however, the situation is a little bit different as we do not have a UN role yet in the sight.
Not a news article or anything like that. Simple question, should we send them after the Jordanian embassy was banned today and of course the Arab nations said they would not send troops.
We messed up with Afghanistan, got our men killed in Somalia to protect the americans. Honestly no troops to Afghanistan. Let the American troops die for the stupidity of their leaders. Not our people.