WASHINGTON : Pakistan’s former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharrafhas said had he been the president now, he would have released Dr ShakilAfridi in a “give and take” deal.
In an interview to Voice of America’s Greta Van Susteren, Musharraf alsonoted that relations between the United States and Pakistan were at their“lowest ebb” now.
“Well, with a deal, yes. With a deal,” said the retired general when askedif he was the president now, would he release Afridi. “A deal, is a giveand take. Yes, indeed it can be resolved. I don’t think it is such aserious thing that it cannot be resolved,” he added.
Dr Afridi, who helped the CIA locate Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, hasbeen in prison in Pakistan since 2011. On Wednesday, US Secretary of StateMike Pompeo pledged before a congressional committee that he would continueto work “diligently” to get Afridi out of prison.
US lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to bring Afridi to theUnited States where he is considered a hero.
Defending Pakistan’s position on Afridi, Musharraf said every nation had tomake policies in accordance with its interests.
He acknowledged that Pakistan’s policy in this case was an “irritant to theUnited States but Washington would have probably done the same if facedwith a similar situation. “Purely on the merits of the case, … would youallow… a US citizen dealing with the ISI on a very, very sensitive issue ofnational importance to the United States?” he asked.
One possibility Musharraf indicated in the interview was exchanging Afridifor Mullah Fazlullah. “We can resolve this irritant and exchange moreaccommodating stance from the United States… andAfghanistan because we havea terrorist sitting there, Fazlullah,” he said.
“I suppose the United States also knows that he’s there.”
Further exploring the possibilities for improving America’s relations withPakistan, he urged Washington to listen to Islamabad’s grievances andadvised Islamabad to pay attention to America’s complaints about theHaqqani network. “We need to sit down and resolve these issues,” he said.
Washington claims that Pakistan has allowed the Haqqani network to use itsterritories for carrying out operations in Afghanistan and has greatlyreduced its financial assistance to Pakistan over this issue.