US threatened to bomb Pakistan ‘again to the Stone Age’ after 9/11 terror assaults: Musharraf in his memoir

In his memoir ‘In the Line of Fire’, Pervez Musharraf wrote that the US threatened to bomb Pakistan “back to the Stone Age” if it didn’t cooperate with America’s struggle on Afghanistan.

Islamabad,UPDATED: Feb 5, 2023 23:07 IST

Former President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf (Retd), handed away on Sunday (Photo: Reuters)

By Press Trust of India: The US threatened to bomb Pakistan “back to the Stone Age” after the 9/11 terror assaults if then President General Pervez Musharraf didn’t cooperate with America’s struggle on Afghanistan.

In his memoir ‘In the Line of Fire’, Musharraf wrote that the menace was delivered by the tough-talking assistant secretary of state, Richard Armitage, in conversations with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief who was in Washington on a go to on the time of the 9/11 assault.

“In what has to be most undiplomatic statement ever made, Armitage added to what Colin Powell had said to me and told the (ISI) director general not only that we had to decide whether we were with America or with the terrorists, but that if we chose the terrorists, then we should be prepared to be bombed back to the Stone Age,” Musharraf wrote, explaining the state of affairs he confronted after the dual tower assault.

He stated this was an incredibly barefaced menace, however it was apparent that the United States had determined to hit again, and hit again exhausting.

Read | Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and his function in Kargil War

Defending his transfer to hitch the US-led War on Terror in Afghanistan, Musharraf stated that his “decision was based on the well-being of my people and the best interest of my country.”

“I war-gamed the United States as an adversary. There would be violent and angry reactions if we didn’t support the United States. Thus the question was: if we do not join them, can we confront them and withstand the onslaught? The answer was no, we could not…” he wrote.

He said, however, the benefits of supporting the United States were many.

Armitage later disputed the language used, but he did not deny that Pakistan was put on notice to help America’s war effort.

Gen Musharraf wrote in his book that on September 13, 2001, the US ambassador to Pakistan, Wendy Chamberlain, brought him a set of seven demands, including blanket overflight and landing rights.

Musharraf said that he balked at some of the US demands such as turning over border posts and bases to US forces.

“How might we permit the United States blanket overflight and touchdown rights with out jeopardizing our strategic belongings? I provided solely a slim flight hall that was removed from any delicate areas,” he wrote.

Pakistan deserted its assist for the Taliban authorities in Kabul and allowed US overflights of Pakistan.

Read | Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf passes away aged 79

Published On:

Feb 5, 2023