I.S.I. is Pakistan's 'first line of defence', says Musharraf

Islamabad, Aug 6 (PTI) - Amid pressure from India and the
U.S. to rein in I.S.I., President Pervez Musharraf has come to
its rescue saying any attempt to target the spy agency will
weaken Pakistan as it is "the first line of defence" and
lashed out at his detractors for calling him an "American
stooge".

Musharraf, who was addressing businessmen in Karachi late
last night, said the recent allegations levelled against the
I.S.I. are a "conspiracy" against Pakistan.

The former military strongman described the intelligence
agency as "the first defence line of Pakistan", saying
weakening the I.S.I. would weaken Pakistan and its armed
forces as well as the war against terror."

Conspiracies against the I.S.I. are aimed at defaming
Pakistan and the spy agency is a patriotic institution working
for the stability of the country, he said.

Musharraf's comments came against the backdrop of India
and Afghanistan accusing the I.S.I. of being behind the attack
on the Indian embassy in Kabul that killed nearly 60 people.

He hit back at his detractors, saying: "The nation will
have to decide as to which kind of Islam it wants. The world
says that Pakistan is extremist. We will have to prove that we
are not so. When I say this, I'm dubbed as an American
stooge."

"We have to decide whether we want a liberal and moderate
Pakistan or a terrorist or extremist Pakistan," he added.

It is widely believed that Musharraf and the armed forces
played a key role in pressuring the government to go back on a
notification issued last month to place the notorious spy
agency under the complete control of the interior ministry.

Musharraf also said he was ready to talk to the Jamaat-e-
Islami and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which are
demanding his impeachment.

The President said a dangerous situation is brewing as
the economic situation of the country was very fragile and it
has become difficult for Pakistan to survive with such a weak
economy. PTI