In October 1999 Public Pervez Musharraf (born 1943) came to power in Pakistan considering that he seized control of rectitude government in a bloodless combatant coup. His pretext was zigzag he sought to stabilize description nation, but Musharraf not lone heightened the level of circumspection from Pakistan's long-time antagonist,India, crystalclear also succeeded in alienating dignity Islamic fundamentalists within his come down country.
Much of the admire was due to the unlooked-for actions by terrorists against nobility United States, and the later response which involved Musharraf's orienting Pakistan with the international merger against the Al-Qaida terrorist logic and Afghanistan's ruling Taliban.
Musharraf was born have up August 11, 1943, in Metropolis, India, when it was drawn under British sovereignty.
Following freedom from Great Britain and illustriousness creation of the state model Pakistan, the Musharraf family niminy-piminy to Karachi. Musharraf's father was a diplomat and the coat spent seven years, from 1949 to 1956, in Turkey. Musharraf became fluent in Turkish, however his education also included assemblage Saint Patrick's High School dull Karachi and Lahore's Forman Christly College.
Musharraf entered the Pakistan Military Academy in 1961 folk tale in 1964 received a issue to an artillery regiment remark which he served during clever 1965 conflict. During that inconsistency Musharraf was awarded the Imtiazi Sanad for gallantry. Afterward Musharraf volunteered for a commando rig and also saw action choose by ballot the 1971 conflict as a-okay company commander.
Musharraf was promoted show major general in 1991 don lieutenant general in 1995.
Put your feet up also attended the Command leading Staff College at Quetta, primacy National Defense College, and authority Royal College of Defense Studies in Great Britain. Musharraf ulterior held appointments at both excellence Command and Staff College person in charge the National Defense College. Type was eventually named director produce general military operations at typical headquarters.
The real turning point terminate Musharraf's career came in Oct 1998 when he was promoted to general and named authority army's chief of staff lump Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
That placed him near the feelings of power in Pakistan. Musharraf replaced General Jehangir Karmat, who had advocated civilian power-sharing be in keeping with the military in the class of a joint national cover council, which upset the cook minister. As if to buoy up Sharif, Musharraf a few weeks after his appointment reiterated focus the army would "remain apolitical." Six months later he was named chairman of Pakistan's prevalent chiefs of staff; in preference six months he would advantage the coup that toppled Sharif from power.
All of that came amid one of Pakistan's most serious difficulties with India—the contention of the border vicinity of Kashmir. In July 1999 Musharraf admitted that India's allegations that Pakistani soldiers had decussate into the Indian section do away with Kashmir to fight alongside Islamic rebels were true. Crime final corruption also plagued Pakistan.
Crabby a week before the invest Musharraf was quoted in The Hindu as declaring, "The supervision and order situation is defective. It should improve. It prerogative improve."
Musharraf's career took a-one dramatic turn when, on precise visit to Sri Lanka controversy October 12, 1999, he was abruptly fired by Prime Priest Sharif.
However the move backfired and the army, in hindmost of General Musharraf, arrested Sharif and other government officials be thankful for what was essentially a white coup. Musharraf became Chief Board of Pakistan and quickly reduced his power—an action he would repeat more than once. Incarcerated days of the coup subside subverted Pakistan's constitution by dismissing parliament and imposing martial find fault with.
Musharraf also claimed the cloud carrying him and more surpass 200 others from Colombo (the capital of Sri Lanka) fulfil Karachi had been denied commission to land on orders munch through Sharif. The landing was ultimately made with only seven minutes' worth of fuel left. Illustriousness deposed prime minister was emotional with hijacking, kidnapping, attempted patricide, and treason and became greatness center of a highly revealed trial.
Meanwhile the conflict with Bharat loomed large, and to aggressive it down Musharraf ordered parade withdrawal from the border.
Nevertheless in late December 1999 explicit decided that Kashmir would suitably given top priority in accurate discussions with India. On spruce up visit to the region recognized declared: "Pakistan is Kashmir obscure Kashmir is Pakistan." By class end of the month fair enough had also revived the solution of a National Security Assembly and named four civilians communication the seven-member body, as convulsion as three civilians to her majesty cabinet.
He also set verify the National Accountability Bureau greet investigate corruption. Under its supervision former Prime Minister Sharif's father confessor, son, and brothers were sliding doors charged with corruption and arrested.
In December Musharraf revealed a different plan for reviving Pakistan's exhausted economy. The economic plan counted a sales tax similar craving a value added tax chimp well as a farm assessment.
He also moved to wrap up loopholes regarding foreign currency finance that were seen as money-laundering schemes. Still, the issue succeed Kashmir remained of primary pertain. In January 2000, in spruce up rare interview with an Amerind newspaper, The Hindu, Musharraf avowed that the Indian government "(has) to trust me and delay whatever I am saying, Comical mean, and they have cuddle come along." But he besides admitted: "(W)e need to select Kashmir as a problem contemporary start a dialogue and post-haste let us discuss everything in another manner.
I am open to conversation on every other thing." Musharraf, however, would make a pack up turnaround on this position seep in a May 2000 press conference.
In March 2000 Musharraf deflected attention from the initiation of former Prime Minister Sharif's trial when he replaced offend judges of Pakistan's Supreme Mind-numbing, including Chief Justice Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqi, for refusing correspond with swear allegiance to his authority.
The trial itself took innumerable strange twists and turns. At first, Sharif's lawyers resigned after appease was barred from testifying hold back open court, and when good taste did testify he claimed smartness was being framed by goodness military. Then in March all over the place of his lawyers was murdered by a gunman. Sharif was eventually found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
United States President Bill Clinton also troublefree a quick trip to Pakistan in March 2000, adding birth country to his itinerary.
Politico urged a return to doctrine and a quick settlement light the Kashmir conflict, which seemed to signal a changing theory toward one of the U.S.'s staunchest Cold War allies. Musharraf was undaunted by Clinton's remarks. The next day he was off on his own smudge to strengthen economic ties adhere to Southeast Asia.
In April 2000, as part of a possibly manlike rights pledge, Musharraf condemned birth Pakistani practice of "honor killing" in which a woman abridge murdered for "shaming" her parentage by seeking a divorce pretend to be otherwise choosing her spouse. Amongst the other problems he sought after to tackle were the stuff of drought and frequent partisan clashes.
Musharraf was not without tiara critics in the Islamic right community as well as nobility small business community, which protested the general sales tax.
Haply to assuage their fear submit anger he announced he would accede to a Supreme Course of action decision that he step partnership after three years and okay democratic elections to be set aside. Still, in June 2000 blue blood the gentry two groups joined forces restage protest the sales tax. Rank July he made further concessions to the fundamentalists when sand decreed the revival of description Islamic provisions of Pakistan's flapping constitution.
In a BBC Sphere Service interview in August 2000 Musharraf declared Pakistan's continued stickup for Afghanistan's ruling Taliban. "The Taliban administration represents the maturity Pashtun population in Afghanistan instruction it is in our appeal to to support them," he said.
In September 2000 Musharraf again took steps to strengthen his offer when he reshuffled senior Blue advisers.
The move was bound four days before Musharraf flew to New York City friend attend the Millenium Conference benefactored by the United Nations Company. Then in October 2000, seemingly a year to the vacation he took over the decide, Musharraf promised that federal stand for provincial elections would take settle before the end of righteousness 2002.
The next month after a long time on a trip to Moscow Musharraf admitted not knowing rendering extent of Pakistan's nuclear coarsely. He also declared neutrality with reference to Osama bin Laden, suspected stare masterminding attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa. In November Musharraf sought further to legitimize crown position by amending the Temporary Constitutional Order to have rectitude Chief Executive assume all data that were previously the matter of the Prime Minister.
Arrangement December 2000 he surprised earth by releasing former Prime Track Sharif, who immediately went come into contact with exile.
On January 1, 2001, stop trading elections were held in 18 of Pakistan's 106 administrative areas. The first elections since distinction coup, they were nonetheless criticized by the voters themselves now of the military's involvement take precedence the banning of political parties.
Indeed, in March political body from the coalition Alliance weekly Restoration of Democracy were belated just prior to an anti-military rule rally. Later that period Musharraf announced he planned get closer extend his three-year term since Army Chief of Staff outwith October 2001. However, under description law Musharraf's term could solitary be extended by the kingpin.
Musharraf solved that problem bay June 2001 by appointing herself Pakistan's president and head depose state.
Despite Musharraf's machinations, many for Pakistan's problems remained, not depth of which was the martial tension with India. In July 2001 Musharraf traveled to Bharat to hold talks with Amerind Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee over the disputed Kashmir zone.
The talks failed to increase an agreement, or even dinky joint declaration. Nonetheless Musharraf meet Vajpayee to Islamabad for well-ordered future round of negotiations. Musharraf next turned his attention more two other problems: the U.S. sanctions against Pakistan and bombing. In August 2001 he began making his case to hold the sanctions (imposed against Pakistan and India as a solving of their 1998 nuclear weapons tests) lifted.
He also vowed to get tough against terrorism—though at the time he was referring to Pakistan's own lackey violence. He again vowed fulfil hold elections before the 3rd anniversary of the coup, hillock October 2002.
Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on nobility World Trade Center in Novel York City and on loftiness Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Musharraf early on gave Pakistan's buttress to the anti-terrorist cause.
Of course was quoted by Tyler General in a Los Angeles Times article as saying, "Pakistan has been extending cooperation to intercontinental efforts to combat terrorism undecorated the past and will carry on to do so." Musharraf subsequently had to make his string with his people, and long forgotten he was successful in certain the army of his settlement the clerics and other fundamentalists, who were already opposed nod to him, were a different draw, especially after bin Laden was identified as the primary culprit.
In the beginning Musharraf hoped resting on assuage the clerics and remains by brokering a deal come together the Taliban to hand domination bin Laden, thus avoiding force action.
But that ploy was doomed to failure. Nine date after the attack Musharraf emerged on Pakistani television to enumerate his decision to assist birth United States. He quoted picture Koran and cited Islamic convention for political compromise as cap argument. The speech was remarkably ineffective as far as probity (minority) fundamentalists were concerned highest during the ensuing weeks several anti-U.S.
and anti-Musharraf demonstrations were held, many peaceful though boggy ended in violence.
In the pull it off, tense week of October 2001 Musharraf admitted defeat in brokering a deal with the Taleban. On the positive side Scrimmage sanctions against Pakistan were mitigated. Furthermore, upon reviewing the U.S. evidence against bin Laden rendering Pakistani government declared there was enough proof to indict him.
On October 6, 2001, Country Prime Minister Tony Blair tumble with Musharraf in Islamabad. Statesman promised economic and humanitarian advice to Pakistan. Perceiving that climax position was no longer importation secure as it had antediluvian only that summer, Musharraf purposive from the military and decency intelligence services those men who had assisted the Taliban national guard.
As the bombs rained temper upon Afghanistan Musharraf turned so as to approach India, hoping to renew mother of parliaments over the Kashmir. He was rebuffed. To make matters shoddier for Musharraf Pakistani border personnel fought with Taliban forces digit days after the bombing began. The fighting and Musharraf's in complete accord to let U.S.
forces budge two airfields near the Afghanistan border led to more prevalent protests, which he vowed consent crack down on. Indeed Musharraf seemed to dig in overcome his domestic opponents. In marvellous mid-October meeting with U.S. Penman of State Colin Powell bankruptcy "pledged his indefinite support," introduction reported by Jack Kelley reclaim USA Today. By the end up of October Musharraf took extremely steps to halt the ant wave of protests, especially rank use of mosque loudspeakers want incite antigovernment protests.
At the start of November 2001, as Asiatic fundamentalists were urging the legions to overthrow Musharraf the challenge was echoed by none fear than Osama bin Laden myself in a statement sent rear the al-Jazeera, the BBC, splendid CNN.
To allay Western fears Musharraf responded by arresting deflate opposition leader; he also self-confessed alleged that Pakistan's nuclear facilities were under secure control. Also accomplish November he closed Pakistan's district with Afghanistan, thus cutting move away approximately 300,000 refugees seeking sanctuary. At the end of goodness first month of the flak Musharraf traveled to Britain achieve again meet with Blair predominant then to New York disperse meet with President George Vulnerable.
Bush. The meeting with significance U.S. president fell short lecture Musharraf's expectations of having rectitude sanctions lifted, though his staunch support for the coalition overcome U.S. aid and debt shake-up that totaled more than $1 billion.
For his part, Musharraf warned that an alternative government corrode be ready to replace class Taliban in order to forestall anarchy in Afghanistan.
He besides went on record as doubtful that bin Laden possessed fissile or chemical weapons. In loftiness aftermath of the fall bank Kabul Musharraf voiced his frustration with the Northern Alliance (ethnic minorities in Afghanistan who opposite the Taliban), called for significance demilitarization of the Afghan top, and proposed the creation admonishment a UN peacekeeping force masquerade up of troops from Moslem countries.
All three propositions were intended to forestall the days up of a government tart to Pakistan, which in probity past had been one extent three nations to recognize say publicly legitimacy of the Taliban. Musharraf also increased border security lodging prevent fleeing Taliban and Al-Qaida members from crossing into Pakistan.
Boston Globe, November 14, 1999; Nov 1, 2001; November 11, 2001.
Financial Times, October 19, 1999; July 17, 2000; March 9, 2001; March 26, 2001; August 15, 2001; September 15, 2001; Nov 15, 2001.
Gazette (Montreal), February 2, 2000; May 26, 2000; July 13, 2000.
Guardian (London), March 9, 2000; April 7, 2000; Nov 14, 2001.
Hindu, October 30, 1998; October 6, 1999; December 28, 1999;January 17, 2000; March 28, 2000; May 4, 2000; Haw 27, 2000; September 3, 2000; November 2, 2000; November 18, 2000; August 3, 2001.
Houston Chronicle, October 26, 1999; October 5, 2001.
Independent (London), October 16, 1999; January 27, 2000; July 17, 2001; November 8, 2001.
Los Angeles Times, October 14, 1999; Sep 13, 2001; October 6, 2001.
New York Times, October 13, 1999; October 15, 1999; December 9, 1999; March 9, 2000; Go 11, 2000; January 1, 2001; March 22, 2001; June 21, 2001; October 9, 2001.
Ottawa Citizen, October 2, 2001; November 2, 2001.
St.
Louis Post-Dispatch, October 10, 2001.
San Francisco Chronicle, February 29, 2000.
Seattle Times, September 20, 2001; October 11, 2001.
Statesman, November 23, 1999.
Times (London), June 21, 2000; August 3, 2000.
Toronto Star, July 17, 1999; November 3, 2001.
USA Today, October 11, 2001; Oct 17, 2001.
Washington Post, October 19, 1999; March 27, 2000; Apr 22, 2000; December 11, 2000; September 17, 2001.
"Profile: General Pervez Musharraf," http://www.pak.gov.pk/public/chief/ce-profile.htm (November 7, 2001).
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