Anti-US feeling could be in Pak Army: Musharraf

Former military ruler general Pervez Musharraf on Monday admitted that there could be anti-American feeling among a section of the Pakistan army as well as in the public there.

"There's anti United States feeling in the public and also may be in the army. Yes, indeed," Musharraf told CNN in an interview attributing this to the feeling among Pakistanis that Washington had abandoned Islamabad and was not a reliable partner.

The former Pakistani president, who ruled the country for about a decade with full backing of the Bush Administration, said the US abandoned Pakistan at a crucial juncture in the past from 1989 to 2001, which has created doubts in the mind of the people of Pakistan about US's reliability.

In these 12 years Pakistan was left alone, and the US abandoned Pakistan's strategic relationship. "For 42 years, from '47 to '89, we were a strategic partner of the United States, all over the world, in everything. We fought a war with them for 10 years. What did we get in return? We were abandoned. So what do the people of Pakistan think?" he said.

Musharraf also denied that Pakistan received USD 10 billion for the war against terrorism and most of it was wasted. Instead, he claimed that he was not provided with enough tools to fight.

Half of the USD 10 billion, i.e.; USD 5 billion was reimbursement for the services provided by Pakistan, Musharraf said.

"It is not your money, it is our money. So let me say it again, half of it- 5 billion dollars- is our money. We provided services to you. So you are repaying us," he said.

"Now we are left with USD 5 billion. Half of this USD 5 billion was meant for military and other half of social sector, education, health and all of that. So half of it which was for military was for, I mean it was pittance to maintain the helicopters, the air force, the ammunition that is being used to fight all of these people," Musharraf argued.

"It is too less... and there was a time that out of about 20 attack helicopters only two was serviceable. I created a UN cry, and then only could we get some support. So, that was for military support," he said.

The former Pakistani president said the situation in the Swat Valley and other areas should have been dealt with more strongly, which was not the case.

"The situation should have been handled with more strength. Never give up strength. Because, we had achieved something. You just have to maintain pressure. That is all. Just maintain pressure," he said.