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Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday night made an astounding attack on India accusing it of bringing bad name to his country and Islam and asked New Delhi to 'lay off' from such 'propaganda'.
In a televised address to the nation, Musharraf, who is facing stiff opposition from hardliners to give unstinted support to US in its fight against terrorism, sought the country's backing as critical concerns including Kashmir could be endangered.
Musharraf admitted that the US has sought intelligence and information exchange, use of air space and logistic support but has not readied operational plans.
Apparently addressing the hardliners, Musharraf said the US was not targeting Islam or people of Afghanistan in its pursuit of the alleged mastermind of September 11 terror attacks Osama bin Laden.
Directing his attack on New Delhi, Musharraf claimed, "India had offered its military bases and logistical support to the US because it wants the US to be with them and get Pakistan declared a terrorist state, harm its strategic concerns and its Kashmir cause."
"It is regrettable that when the entire world is talking about fight against terrorism, India, with whom we were discussing peace and cooperation, is trying to bring a bad name to Pakistan and Islam," he said in his 30-minute address in Urdu.
Musharraf said New Delhi wanted to prop up an anti-Pakistan government in Afghanistan.
He said representatives from certain countries including India had recently met in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, to discuss the Afghan situation.
"What was the intention? India does not share borders with Afghanistan. There is no connection between India and Afghanistan....In my view they want to bring changes in Afghanistan as it wanted to install an anti-Pakistan government there," he said.
"My message to India is to lay off," the Pakistan President, dressed in military fatigues, said.
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