NN Exclusive: Pervez Musharraf hails Burhan Wani as a 'young leader'

Backing Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s praise for Burhan Wani at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Pakistan former president and former Army Chief General Parvez Musharraf on Thursday called slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander a ‘young leader’. He said this while speaking to News Nation in an exclusive interview.

"I was in the army and I well understand who can be called a leader ", he said when asked whether a person carrying AK-47 is seen as a ‘leader’ in Pakistan.  

When asked about the ongoing unrest in Balochistan, Sindh and PoK, Musharraf tried to turn the focus of his reply by referring to Kashmir Burhan Wani.

ALSO READ | Masood Azhar is a 'terrorist', Pervez Musharraf tells News Nation

Musharraf called Masood Azhar a 'terrorist' and said that he has been involved in blasts even in Pakistan. However, he refused to give a clear reply as to why Pakistan has not been asking China to get Masood declared as an International terrorist. 

“Why should China be involved when it has nothing to do with him," he said. It may be recalled that China had been blocking India's move to brand Masood Azhar as a terrorist. He blamed the Nawaz Sharif government for Pakistan’s global isolation, saying it lacked aggression. 

On the September 29 'surgical strike' across the LoC by the Indian Army and military might of India he said, “Pakistan is a nuke power with a strong army which can’t be bullied.”

On the latest arrest of espionage by staffer of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi on Thursday, he said, "I am not aware of it ", but soon added, "If at all has happened, shouldn't be encouraged ".

When asked how many terror camps are there in PoK, he said “I don't know ", however, he sarcastically added, "I will let you know only once I get the count of these camps which you are talking about".