Musharraf sees split in Taliban

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 31. The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has said there was a split in the Taliban and he will not press Washington to halt bombing during Ramadan.

Gen. Musharraf expressed concern over popular opposition to a prolonged campaign in Afghanistan, but said domestic opposition to his decision to back the U.S. in its attacks on the Taliban had been less than expected. "One has to achieve the objective of the military operation," Gen. Musharraf said in an interview to Reuters Television at his residence on Tuesday.

"I only hope that this (military objective) is achieved before Ramadan. There is a possibility," he said. "But if that does not happen, I would discuss the matter with him (the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush) but I wouldn't be pressing him as such." However, he said he saw the growing possibility of a revolt against the Taliban paving the way for a political solution that would end the need for the daily bombing that has inflicted an increasing toll on civilians.

"No, it's not wishful thinking," Gen. Musharraf said when asked about the prospect of desertions in the dominant Pashtun tribe that has supported the Taliban so far.

"Who is the head of the Pashtun? Not the Taliban. It is a very calculated remark that I am making," he said, declining to go into details about who he expected to leave the Taliban.

`Musharraf may be toppled'

A PTI report from Washington quoted Prince Turki as-Sudairi of Saudi Arabia as saying he feared Gen. Musharraf may be toppled if the U.S. continued to bomb Afghanistan during Ramadan.

The Wall Street Journal said the prince, publisher of the Al Riyadh newspaper, and other members of the royal family feared the destabilisation of the Islamic world if the war against Afghanistan continued during Ramadan or if the U.S. began targeting other nations such as Iraq.

"Ramadan is very important," said Prince Turki.

"Emotions will run high. There will be more support for Islamic groups. Some governments can be toppled."

Asked what countries he was referring to, the prince said: "Pakistan, Indonesia. We worry about civil war in Pakistan. The impact will be dramatic."

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Section  : International
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