In a TIME magazine interview, former President Pervez Musharraf said that although Pakistan was a very dangerous country, the most dangerous was Afghanistan. He blamed the condition of the region on the jihad against the Soviets saying, "In effect we introduced religious militancy by design in Afghanistan, and then the US left the place high and dry. The responsibility lies with the West. The US encouraged it all, and we suffered. This is what we face. It comes from history."
Musharraf said that he would like to come back to Pakistan to stop the suffering of the people. He said he was a successful leader for nine years and now Pakistan was suffering. He said the leadership vacuum and ultimately the cause of Pakistan pulls him towards his destiny.
The former president said that he has serious objections to the comparison with other dictators such as Ben Ali, Mubarak and Gaddafi. He said he left peacefully by his own choice. About Gaddafi he said that the will of the people should prevail. "ItÂ’s almost a civil war there. A political situation must be found."
With regards to Pakistan's rising Islamism he said, "You have two choices: succumb to circumstances or do something. I know the people of Pakistan are moderate. ItÂ’s unfortunate when the Government itself and the leadership appease the religious groups and extremists by turning a blind eye."
Asked about being a nuclear power 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.”