musharraf warns u.s. to keep away

Musharraf warns U.S. to keep away
Associated Press

January 11, 2008 at 6:28 AM EST

ISLAMABAD — President Pervez Musharraf warned U.S. troops will be regarded as invaders if they cross into Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan in the hunt for al-Qaeda or Taliban militants in an interview published Friday.

Mr. Musharraf, whose popularity has plummeted amid a surge in extremist attacks in recent months, also told Singapore's the Straits Times newspaper he would resign if opposition parties tried to impeach him following next month's parliamentary elections.

Pakistan is under growing U.S. pressure to crack down on militants in its tribal regions close to the Afghan border.

The rugged area has long been considered a likely hiding place for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his top deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, as well as an operating ground for Taliban militants planning attacks on coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Mr. Musharraf told the Straits Times that U.S. troops would “certainly” be considered invaders if they set foot in the tribal regions.

“If they come without our permission, that's against the sovereignty of Pakistan. I challenge anybody coming into our mountains,” he said in the interview in the garrison city Rawalpindi.

“They would regret that day.”

Mr. Musharraf, who seized power in a military coup eight years ago, is also under growing domestic pressure.

The party of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and the other main opposition grouping are predicted to make gains in the Feb. 18 polls. They have threatened to oust Mr. Musharraf if they emerge as winners. Mr. Musharraf is seen as vulnerable to impeachment because of his decision to fire Supreme Court judges and suspend the constitution last year.

“If that [impeachment] happens, let me assure that I'd be leaving office before they would do anything. If they won with this kind of majority and they formed a government that had the intention of doing this, I wouldn't like to stick around,” he said.


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