KARACHI, 20 November — A military spokesman has denied a Radio Teheran report that a coup plot is on the anvil to overthrow the government of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. “The Pakistan Army is completely united as a professional, coherent organization. It is a disciplined force, and there is nothing to suggest about dissension in its ranks” said the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi.
In remarks published by the Jang daily newspaper, he described the report as “mischievous”, explaining that the president enjoyed complete confidence of his force commanders, and he (Musharraf) takes decisions in consultation with them.” Qureshi recalled that sometime back reports had appeared about the arrest of two naval officers. That report too was baseless. No one from the defense services had been arrested. A retired navy officer was questioned sometime back, but that was all, he said.
Another important government functionary has said that Pakistan has successfully steered itself from the present crisis, while continuing to be a member of the international coalition against terrorism.
Information Ministry chief Anwar Mahmood said in Karachi, Pakistan had taken a well thought out decision to be in the coalition. Had it refused to accept the dictate of the time, it may well have to face dire consequences. His explanation to journalists came after a whispering campaign had started that Musharraf had failed in his foreign policy perceptions, following the refusal of the Northern Alliance commanders to heed to the advice of Pakistan and America not to enter Kabul in their drive to force Taleban out of Afghanistan.
However, he reaffirmed Islamabad’s demand for a multi-ethnic, broad-based government in Afghanistan, and looked confident that efforts being made in that direction by the UN would succeed. He conceded that whichever government would be installed in Afghanistan, it would remain friendly toward Pakistan. “We don’t have to be over-worried” he said in answer to questions, reflecting anxiety in the country that the new leadership in Kabul may chose to settle scored with Islamabad.
He said that Pakistan had not made any contact with the Northern Alliance leaders in Afghanistan, and indicated that its reliance was more on the UN special representative Lakhdar Brahimi.
