Pervez Musharraf, former president of war-torn Pakistan, favors exhausting all diplomatic options to resolve the crisis involving Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons. He also believes it is urgent to use diplomacy to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Musharraf, whose former job as president of Pakistan was described by Time magazine as “the most dangerous job in the world,” was the first speaker for the 2008-2009 St. Louis Speakers Series, sponsored by Maryville University. He addressed a packed house at Powell Symphony Hall last Thursday, Oct. 1.

Musharraf offered his perspectives on the “internal and external dynamics” affecting Pakistan; the decades-long conflict with India over the disputed province of Kashmir and his efforts while president of Pakistan to combat Al Qaeda and the Taliban, many of whose members crossed from Afghanistan into his country after the U.S. invasion of Pakistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In 2001, Musharraf was elected president of Pakistan, serving in the tumultuous period after 9/11. Facing impeachment over various corruption charges, he resigned his presidency in 2007 after the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who had been seeking a political comeback.

The former Pakistani president received a warm welcome from the large audience, which he acknowledged with a proper military salute.

Musharraf said his recent lectures in the United States have given him an opportunity to talk about his country and dispel myths. “Many people think of Pakistan as a backward, uneducated and poor nation,” he said. “While we of course have problems, our educational system is excellent, and we have a thriving economy and advanced technology and infrastructure.

“Everything in the world seems to be happening in our region, and much of it in our country. All important issues confronting the world involve Pakistan as a frontline state,” he continued.

In an almost school-teacher manner, Musharraf traced the history of Pakistan from the historic partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 by the British government, which resulted in the splitting of the region into two nations, India with a Hindu majority and Pakistan with a Muslim majority.

Musharraf said that the potential for new conflict with India became much more dangerous when first India and then Pakistan developed nuclear weapons. “After 1974, our defensive strategy had to be altered to take into account that India had successfully tested a nuclear weapon. Pakistan decided to go nuclear in self-defense, and in 1998 we exploded a nuclear device,” he said.

Addressing concerns that terrorists might gain access or control over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, Musharraf said, “All of our nuclear assets are under the control of an army Strategic Force Command, a 16,000-man force which looks after our nuclear assets and exists to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists.”

Musharraf said that soon after gaining its independence, Pakistan “made a strategic alliance with the West,” and emphasized that during his presidency he continued to support U.S. efforts to combat Al Qaeda and Taliban forces which had fled to Pakistan’s Swat Valley and mountain regions.

“We are asked why Pakistan’s 500,000-member army just doesn’t go into those areas and wipe out the Al Qaeda and Taliban,” Musharraf said. “First of all not all of the Taliban are in Pakistan, and not all groups that claim to be controlled by Al Qaeda are actually under Osama bin Laden.”

Musharraf said he believed that Al Qaeda has been limited and weakened due to the war in Afghanistan and efforts by the Pakistani forces in Pakistan, “but the Taliban has made a comeback since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2003.” He stressed the importance of working with members of the Pashtun groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan to win them over from the extreme views of the Taliban.

In the question and answer session that followed his talk, Musharraf did not rule out a return to active politics at a future date. On the issue of what should be done regarding the possibility that Israel might attack Iran’s nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails, Musharraf said, “Military action would be very dangerous in this situation. All diplomatic efforts must be made to resolve Iran’s nuclear crisis. It is also urgent that the international community continue to press for a resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.”

Musharraf said that he welcomes President Barack Obama’s outreach to the Muslim and Arab worlds. “I believe he is sincere and I appreciate his outreach. I wish him well and hope he will be successful.” ing economy and advanced technology and infrastructure.

“Everything in the world seems to be happening in our region, and much of it in our country. All important issues confronting the world involve Pakistan as a frontline state,” he continued.

In an almost school-teacher manner, Musharraf traced the history of Pakistan from the historic partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 by the British government, which resulted in the splitting of the region into two nations, India with a Hindu majority and Pakistan with a Muslim majority.

Musharraf said that the potential for new conflict with India became much more dangerous when first India and then Pakistan developed nuclear weapons. “After 1974, our defensive strategy had to be altered to take into account that India had successfully tested a nuclear weapon. Pakistan decided to go nuclear in self-defense, and in 1998 we exploded a nuclear device,” he said.

Addressing concerns that terrorists might gain access or control over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, Musharraf said, “All of our nuclear assets are under the control of an army Strategic Force Command, a 16,000-man force which looks after our nuclear assets and exists to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists.”

Musharraf said that soon after gaining its independence, Pakistan “made a strategic alliance with the West,” and emphasized that during his presidency he continued to support U.S. efforts to combat Al Qaeda and Taliban forces which had fled to Pakistan’s Swat Valley and mountain regions.

“We are asked why Pakistan’s 500,000-member army just doesn’t go into those areas and wipe out the Al Qaeda and Taliban,” Musharraf said. “First of all not all of the Taliban are in Pakistan, and not all groups that claim to be controlled by Al Qaeda are actually under Osama bin Laden.”

Musharraf said he believed that Al Qaeda has been limited and weakened due to the war in Afghanistan and efforts by the Pakistani forces in Pakistan, “but the Taliban has made a comeback since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2003.” He stressed the importance of working with members of the Pashtun groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan to win them over from the extreme views of the Taliban.

In the question and answer session that followed his talk, Musharraf did not rule out a return to active politics at a future date. On the issue of what should be done regarding the possibility that Israel might attack Iran’s nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails, Musharraf said, “Military action would be very dangerous in this situation. All diplomatic efforts must be made to resolve Iran’s nuclear crisis. It is also urgent that the international community continue to press for a resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.”

Musharraf said that he welcomes President Barack Obama’s outreach to the Muslim and Arab worlds. “I believe he is sincere and I appreciate his outreach. I wish him well and hope he will be successful.”