New York, Mar 27: Pakistan is a "very dangerous" country, its former President Pervez Musharraf has admitted.
"It is very dangerous, yes, I will have to admit," Musharraf told Time magazine when asked during an interview whether Pakistan was the most dangerous country in the world.
The most dangerous country is Afghanistan, according to Musharraf, who is now living in exile in London and is planning to return home to run for the post of the President which he left in 2008. He is also wanted in his country in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Asked which is more of a threat to Pakistan - extremism or India, he said, "At the moment, it's extremism and terrorism. But you can't compare. Let's not think this is a permanent situation.
"The orientation of 90 per cent of Indian troops is against Pakistan. We cannot ever ignore India, which poses an existential threat to Pakistan."
When pointed out that he had stepped down at the behest of people and the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt saw their rulers being toppled, Musharraf said, "I would like to seriously object to the comparison. I left peacefully through my own volition. So please don't compare me to those two."
On what advise he would give to embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, he said, "The will of the people should reign supreme. It's almost a civil war there. A political situation must be found."
To a question on his plans to return to Pakistan to run again for the Presidential post, Musharraf said, "For the sake of Pakistan. I am very comfortable. I go around the world lecturing, and they pay me well.
"But there is a cause bigger than the self. I governed the country for nine years - successfully. So I don't have to reinvent the wheel. And I know Pakistan is suffering. I know there is a vacuum of leadership. Therefore the cause of Pakistan pulls me toward my destiny. Maybe it's a call of destiny much more for the nation than for myself."
On if he saw any good leadership in Pakistan that will shift the country from the grip of religious extremists, Musharraf replied, "That is why I want to go back."
Responding to a question on Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, he said, "...Yes, we have nuclear weapons, and we are proud of it. Nuclear weapons are the pride of every man, woman and child walking in the streets of Pakistan. Why are we nuclear? Because of India." PTI
