Former president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf on November 28 declared that he is the greatest supporter of proscribed militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The declaration of support for LeT, Jamaatud Dawa and its chief Hafiz Saeed, who was recently released from house arrest, was made during a discussion pertaining to Musharraf's recently announced 23-party 'grand alliance' on Pakistani news channel ARY News programme 11th Hour.
During the talk show, the host pointed out that it will be "an interesting visual" to see Musharraf ─ "enlightened moderation, liberal outlook" ─ sitting next to leaders of parties such as Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Sunni Itehad Council and Pakistan Sunni Tehreek ─ "parties with religious colours."
"You are describing me as a liberal [...] Yes, I am. These are my thoughts," Musharraf said. "That does not mean I am against all religious parties." "I am the greatest supporter of LeT and I know they [LeT and JuD] are fond of me," he said.
When asked if he "liked" JuD chief Hafiz Seed, the former president said that he does and that he has met with him.
"Because I have always been in favour of action in Kashmir and I have always been in favour of pressuring the Indian army in Kashmir. This is the biggest force and they have been declared terrorists by India and the US jointly," Musharraf said, explaining his stance.
Musharraf, 74, who is on self-exile in Dubai, said that Saeed, mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack, ”is involved in Kashmir” and he supports their involvement.
Saeed was placed on the terrorism blacklist by the United Nations in December 2008, after the Mumbai attack, in which 166 people died.
”They (LeT) are the biggest force. India got them declared as terrorists after partnering with the US. Yes, they (LeT) are involved in Kashmir but in Kashmir it is between us and India,” he told the ARY News.
Musharraf said he knows that Saeed and the Jammat-ud-Dawa, a front headed by Saeed in Pakistan, like him.
Musharraf himself had banned the LeT when he was in power.
When asked about this, Musharraf said he had banned the terror group under “different circumstances”. He did not explain what the circumstances were.
Saeed was placed on the terrorism blacklist by the UN under Security Council Resolution 1267.
The US too has designated him as a global terrorist and has announced a reward of $10 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Saeed has now filed a petition to get himself removed from the UN list of designated terrorists.
Musharraf is facing a slew of court cases after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai to contest the general elections in 2013, which he lost.
Musharraf, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, claimed that he was ready to face all charges as the courts are not under “Nawaz Sharif's control anymore”.