Musharraf’s death… the “founder” of the modern Pakistani forces

The former President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, who died yesterday at the age of 79, made his country an important ally of the United States in the framework of its “war on terror” after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

General Pervez Musharraf, who died in Dubai after a long illness, can be described as the founder of the modern Pakistani military forces that have gradually developed their ability to pursue terrorist groups spread throughout the urban areas of Pakistan.

Musharraf, who maintained that his ideal of leadership was Napoleon, overthrew Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup and installed himself as the president of Pakistan in 2001. After the US invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks, Musharraf brought his country’s policy in line with Washington’s positions. It appeared as a regional bulwark against al-Qaeda, whose leaders took refuge in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Musharraf survived at least three assassination attempts by the organization.

General Musharraf once said that at the end of his nine years in power, when asked by a foreign journalist whether the Pakistani army still supported him, he would reply, “The army is behind me and will be behind me whichever way I go.”