President Pervez Musharraf accused the Afghan government of "doing nothing to fight terrorism" and of "losing the war" against the Taliban, in remarks published here on Thursday.
"Those who do nothing against terrorism, like (Afghan President Hamid) Karzai, are also the ones who criticise those who are fighting, like us," Musharraf told Spanish Daily El Pais during a visit to Spain.
He also denied accusations from Karzai that al Qaeda head Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mulla Mohammad Omar were in Pakistan, saying the two men were "probably" holed up in Afghanistan. "Those who say that the ISI (Pakistani military intelligence) helps the Taliban because we want a weak Afghanistan are liars," said Musharraf.
"They say these things to hide their shame because they are losing the war against the Taliban", he added. The comments set the stage for a stormy meeting between Musharraf and Karzai, two key allies of the US, in Turkey next week.
Afghan and US officials have blamed Pakistan for failing to prevent Taliban-led militants from attacking US, Nato and Afghan forces in Afghanistan from their bases in Pakistan's tribal areas along their 2,400-km common border. Later on Thursday in the southern Spanish city of Granada, Musharraf defended his country's record.
"Pakistan is the country, which has done the maximum in Afghanistan against al Qaeda, that is going the maximum against the Taliban," he said during an address to students. "Yet it is misperceived by those who have no understanding of the area and who have no other idea or strategy. They don´t understand the environment, they have no strategy but they criticise, they sit in drawing rooms and they criticise," he added.
Islamabad has 80,000 troops stationed on the Afghan-Pak border and has also started putting up a fence on parts of its north-west frontier to stop Taliban fighters sneaking across.
Kabul opposes the fence because it disputes the current border with Pakistan but Islamabad says it has no choice if it is to avoid repeated calls by the international community to stop Taliban rebels based in Pakistan from mounting attacks in Afghanistan. Pakistan was one of three countries that recognised the harsh Taliban regime in the late 1990s, but later supported the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by al Qaeda.
ATTACK ON IRAN Commenting on US-Iran nuke crisis, the President Musharraf said any US attack on Iran would fuel sectarian tensions in Pakistan. "There would be an effect on Pakistan as well, with implications for religious sectarianism, from any operation against Shias in Iran, which Sunnis (in Iran) would suffer just as much," Musharraf told El Pais during a visit to Spain.
"Most Pakistanis are anti-American, and that feeling would grow," he said. "But that doesn't mean that public opinion would stop understanding the character of our strategic alliance with Washington, a policy which has served Pakistan well for decades."
BOSNIA VISIT President Pervez Musharraf will travel to Bosnia from here on Friday on the third leg of his four-nation tour. During his stay in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia, he is scheduled to hold talks with Chairman of the Bosnian Presidency, Nebojsa Radmanovic and Prime Minister Dr Nkola Spiric.
He will be the first head of state of Pakistan to visit the European country. Accompanied by the members of his entourage, the President will also address a joint session of the Bosnian parliament. Bosnia and Herzegovina are situated in the heart of Europe. Pakistan enjoys fraternal ties with the Republic, where Muslims are the largest community.
HOLDS TALKS WITH CORDOBA'S LEADERS President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday hoped that sister cities of Lahore and Cordoba will establish strong links to promote economic and social affinities between Pakistan and Spain. He was speaking at a luncheon hosted by Mayor Ms Rosa Agvivar in his honour in Cordoba.
He said the city of Cordoba is a world heritage with two thousand years of history and having rich culture, traditions and values. He said it had those civil amenities, many centuries ago, which are now being enjoyed by other cities. He said Cordoba has a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis. Our great national poet Allama Iqbal has immortalised this city and Andalucia with his famous poem Dua.
The President said this city has a key role to play in bringing about inter faith harmony as it lies at the historical junction. He said through his strategy of enlightened moderation and Spain's Alliance of Civilisation, Pakistan would like to join hands with Spain in promoting the ideal of inter faith harmony.
The Mayor said Cordoba has common religious and historical heritage between Pakistan and Spain. Ms Rosa Agvivar presented a symbol of sister cities of Lahore and Cordoba to the President. Earlier, President of Regional Government of Andalucia Manuel Chavies had a meeting with Pervez Musharraf.
Talking to him the President emphasised the need for inter faith harmony and praised the efforts of the Pakistani leader in promoting moderation and tolerance.
INDO-PAK TIES IMPROVING Commenting on Indo-Pak ties the President Pervez said Pakistan's relationship with India, strained over a long-standing dispute over Kashmir, are gradually warming. "We are improving our relations, we are trying to resolve our disputes, and there is reasonable progress," he said during an address to students in the southern city of Cordoba.
VISITS CORDOBA MOSQUE President General Pervez Musharraf visited Cordoba Mosque, a great monument of 100 years rule of Muslim Umpire.
The President along with the members of his entourage went around various sections of the sparsely built mosque structure and evinced keen interest in its unique style of construction.
During the briefing about history of the mosque, the President asked questions about different aspects of historical nature and various phases of its rebuilding and renovation. The President appreciated the preservation of some parts of the mosque in its original shape and character.
President Musharraf is the first head of state from Pakistan, who visited this mosque. The mosque is considered as one of the holiest shrines, depicting the Muslim heritage with the shape of a rich and diverse historical legacy of a culture and artistic nature. The mosque was built by King Abdul Rehman in 785 AD, and at that time Cordoba was the capital of Spanish Muslim state.
The main hall of the mosque is 23,400 sq. meters. There are hundreds of pillars and arches, which give fascinating look of this Islamic architecture.
The mosque is also first Spanish architectural building, which has been placed in the UN list of cultural monuments of international status, presenting old civilisation of Arab rule.
Talking to newsmen after the visit to the mosque, the President said this exquisite holy place has been holding the history of civilisation and culture. It reflects old Muslim glory and civilisation. He noted that mosque could be a symbol of harmony among the religion and civilisation.
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