Musharraf, in Phila., sees South Asia challenges

The former president of Pakistan, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, addressed a crowd at an event hosted by the World Affairs Council last night at the Franklin Institute and called South Asia "one of the most volatile regions in the world today."

While protesters against his regime gathered outside to make their views known - some left behind shoes - Musharraf dodged a question of why he suspended his country's constitution, saying he would "rather skip this."

He said what he did was "with all legal governance."

During his speech, Musharraf said Afghanistan, Pakistan and India were "the focal point in the world today."

The region, he said, faces three large challenges: terrorism and extremism; the acrimonious relationship between India and Pakistan; and poverty and underdevelopment.

Pakistan faces "all facets of extremism" including al-Qaeda and the Taliban, he said, and such groups must be stopped from spreading in the society.

"This is a battle for hearts and minds," he said.

Musharraf noted that India and Pakistan, both nuclear states, have fought three wars since 1947.

"We have so much to lose if there is a confrontation, so much to gain if there is peace," said Musharraf, who in August resigned as president under pressure for declaring a state of emergency in November 2007 and suspending the constitution.

Musharraf, who came to power in 1999 in a bloodless coup, became America's chief ally in the region after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

Critics have said the United States stuck with Musharraf too long and developed few other relationships to rely on in Pakistan.

Musharraf said public opinion in Pakistan had turned against the United States because of its involvement in the region since 1979.

After his speech, Musharraf took written questions from the audience.

When asked what advice he would give President Obama, Musharraf said he would suggest addressing the root causes of the problems in the region and "force" India and Pakistan to resolve their political disputes.

Outside, small groups of protesters gathered in front of the entrance.

"As lawyers we have an ethical and professional responsibility to confront violations of law no matter where they occur," said Ryan Hancock, of the Pakistan Justice Coalition.

Musharraf "was anything but a person who respected the rule of law and democracy," Hancock said.

Iqbal Munawar, a lawyer from New York, said Musharraf "mistreated and humiliated" judges in Pakistan's courts when he imprisoned 60 of them.

"Nobody in the civilized world would do that," he said.

Shahid Comrade, of the Pakistan-USA Freedom Forum, said of the former president: "He is a violator of human rights in Pakistan."

Understandably, last night's session, which was sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, a private, nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that brings noted speakers to the city to address nation and international issues, required a large dose of security.