Pervez Musharraf

General Pervez Musharraf ({{lang-ur| ????? ????}}; born August 11, 1943, Near Delhi, India) became de facto Head of Government (using the title Chief Executive and assuming extensive powers) of Pakistan on October 12, 1999 following a bloodless coup d'état. He assumed the office of President of Pakistan (becoming Head of State) on June 20, 2001.

Partner in the War on Terror

Since his involvement as a senior officer of Pakistan's special forces during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Musharraf has had excellent personal relations with several sections of the US security establishement. Following his coup in 1999, US President Bill Clinton called Musharraf to express his concern http://www.state.gov/www/regions/sa/991013_whstat_pkst.html about the coup and his desire for stability in South Asia. Instead of returning President Clinton's call Musharraf called General Anthony C. Zinni of the marines who was serving as the then head of CENTCOM (Middle East). Addressing him as "Tony", Musharraf continued on to explain his reasons and intended actions. General Zinni remained as one of Musharraf's strongest supporters prior to US foreign policy shifts post 9/11.

Related Topics:
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan - US President - Bill Clinton - South Asia - General Anthony C. Zinni - CENTCOM - 9/11

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Following the September 11, 2001 Attacks Musharraf has worked closely with President of the United States George W. Bush in the "War on Terror" (causing widespread discontent among some Pakistani people for various reasons).

Related Topics:
September 11, 2001 Attacks - President of the United States - George W. Bush

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Shortly after the events of 9/11, Musharraf gave a watershed speech http://presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/PresidentialSpeeches.aspx on Pakistan Television in which he pledged his and Pakistan's support to the United States in its war on terrorism. Though the Taliban was largely an independent phenomenon, there exists an impression that the Taliban regime is a product of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency of Pakistan working on the principle of 'Strategic depth' to ensure a Pakistan-friendly regime in Afghanistan and to reduce the number of refugees pouring into Pakistan and to prevent further burden on an already ailing economy. The new policy seemed to be a sudden 180-degree turn from the old one and was judged an indicator of Musharraf's sincerity by analysts at think tanks like the Brookings Institute.

Related Topics:
Terrorism - Inter-Services Intelligence - Strategic depth

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Musharraf's support for the USA was indispensable in defeating the Taliban in Afghanistan with the ease that it was routed. This was done after his swift and strategically sound decision to cease Pakistan's long-running support of the Taliban. Pakistan cut the Taliban's oil and supply lines, provided intelligence and acted as a logistics support area for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Related Topics:
USA - Taliban - Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom

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Musharraf speaks fluent English and has given many interviews and speeches on various US and European TV channels and other media. He has spoken at think tanks such as the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California, in June 2003. His support for the US-led War on Terror has been a cause for dislike by some right-wing Islamic fundamentalist parties in Pakistan. The US's image in Pakistan has suffered ostensibly after the war in Iraq without a UN resolution. Musharraf has bluntly refused to send any Pakistani troops to Iraq without a UN resolution.

Related Topics:
Think tanks - RAND Corporation - Santa Monica, California - June 2003 - War - Iraq - UN

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