M A I N   N E W S

Musharraf to woo US media over Pakistan image

Islamabad, September 11
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf left for New York today with a mission to counter criticism of Pakistan’s record on women’s rights, improve Muslim-Jewish relations and boost a flagging peace process with India.

Like many other leaders congregating there for the UN General Assembly days after the fourth anniversary of Al-qaida’s September 11 attacks on the USA, General Musharraf can also be expected to deliver a strong message on the war on terrorism.

The Pakistani leader, who has survived several Al- qaida-inspired assassination attempts since becoming one of Washington’s principal allies in the Islamic world, has still to win over the US media, which often say his actions don’t match his words.

When not questioning how known militant groups have survived repeated crackdowns, Western media raise doubts about General Musharraf’s commitment to developing democracy, or focus on rape cases to depict violence against women in Pakistan.

“I believe demonstrations have been planned by human rights groups who are far more annoyed at the human rights situation in Pakistan than General Musharraf,’’ said Samina Ahmed of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.

“We will see how far he addresses these concerns.’’ Before setting off, General Musharraf itemised these issues, telling reporters: “I would like to achieve many things, basically covering whatever negatives are there on Pakistan, and to project Pakistan in a strong way.’’

His schedule in the USA shows his intentions.

On September 17, he is due to address the American-Jewish Congress and an audience of Pakistani American women at Columbia University.

Some observers believe that the US media might go easy on General Musharraf because of his decision to open diplomatic channels with Israel following a widely publicised meeting of the two countries’ foreign ministers in Istanbul on September 1.

General Musharraf is expected to cite that bold move, along with earlier ones to seek peace with India and abandon support for the Taliban in Afghanistan, to win favour internationally. — Reuters