General and Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf became president of Pakistan in 1999, following a bloodless coup. He and his country became integral in the War on Terror after 9/11. Pakistan helped capture hundreds of al-Qaida operatives and continues to be allied with the United States against extremists. President Musharraf, facing impeachment pressure, resigned in August 2008. He has survived several assassination attempts and isn't ruling out running for president again. He wrote his memoir, "In the Line of Fire," while still in office. The former president was in Pittsburgh recently to kick off Robert Morris University's Pittsburgh Speakers Series at Heinz Hall. Still to come are former first lady Laura Bush, Robert Reich, Mia Farrow and others. To order subscriptions to the series on a pro-rated basis, call 412-392-4900

What is the biggest misconception Americans have of Pakistan?

That we are all radicals and fundamentalists roaming around the country, bearded people, extremists. The vast majority is moderate. There is a perception maybe that the education level is very low, and we are all Madrasah-educated people. It's very wrong. Madrasahs only account for maybe 3 or 4 percent of the students of Pakistan. The rest are educated in government schools, which are progressive, and private schools, which are very progressive. There are lots of missionary institutions. I have studied in St. Patrick School, which is a Catholic missionary school, and Forman Christian College, which is a Protestant college.

Do you feel your education in those Christian schools helped give you a broader perspective of the world?

Yes, but I won't say it is only the Christian missionary schools which are doing that. They all broaden the horizon. Another thing is maybe the developmental level in Pakistan. When foreigners, especially from the West would come, they are surprised by our development. Maybe people [in America] think we are some kind of village environment. We are fairly developed. People have a high impression of India; I've been to India. In comparison Pakistan is far more developed, far more developed than India.

Was there one point when you looked in the mirror and said "Wow, I am running Pakistan?"

---

PG audio

Hear more of this interview with Pervez Musharraf.

• See the "Breakfast With ..." archive.

---

Yes, again one thanks God and destiny. One is very humbled by what God has given you. I am basically a product of a middle-class home ... which believed in good education, character and principles. Having not been born with a silver spoon, I rose on my own. So I am a self-made man. It gave me pride, but at the same time humility not to be too over-proud. One should have his feet on the ground.

Power is a very intoxicating thing. It must be hard to stay grounded with people bowing and opening doors and ...

Yes it's overdone in parts of the country. The bowing down and carrying things for you. I have always believed in treating human beings like human beings. I have always looked after the welfare of subordinates. I have always believed that one should never hurt anybody's ego.

I am presuming you were able to trust the people around you because of that?

Yes. There are some people who do not trust anyone until they prove worthy of trust. I believe in the opposite. You must trust a person until he proves himself to be unworthy of that trust. You have to be a reasonably good judge of people also.

How did you and your family deal with the attempts on your life?

My wife did get disturbed, very much so. There were some very close calls. But I didn't get that disturbed [laughs]. It is a part of life. I have fought wars, and I have seen my own men die in my arms. I have seen my best friend being killed in action. I have been taught and brought up that life has danger, and you have to face danger. Therefore, I think I took it in stride. My wife and family, yes they were distraught about security.

The government of Pakistan says it is using a plan of development, deterrence and dialogue to combat the Taliban and terrorists. How is that different from when you were in office?

It's not different. I have always been saying we have to have a three-track approach, of military, political and social and economic, and then we have to get the root causes of extremism and terrorism, which really in Pakistan is poverty and illiteracy.

When populations become more educated they tend to become more secular.

I think education brings balance and tolerance in a person, a better understanding, otherwise they are misled by semi-illiterate clerics. But I don't think secularism has that much to do with education. Partially, yes, I agree, an educated man will be more tolerant of other religions. But Islam itself, our religion, teaches us equality and tolerance toward the minorities. I can't say that it is through education that we become secular, but through education we become a more tolerant society.

What do you think of Vice President Joe Biden's proposed plan to draw down the troop levels in Afghanistan and target al-Qaida hot spots in Pakistan?

I don't think that's a good strategy at all. If they reduce [the] force then the operational strategy will have to be rethought, remolded to fit the reduced troops. Now, if the idea is you leave the Taliban and you only attack al-Qaida, I don't think that is a wise strategy. It is the Taliban who are now very strong. It is the Taliban who are fighting. It is the Taliban force of Mullah Omar. Fifty percent of Afghans, who are Pashtuns, are supporters of Taliban, and they are the ones who ruled Afghanistan for six years. Then they have support on the Pakistan side. It is the Taliban that has emerged as the main power. I would like to know what his overall strategy is.

What are your thoughts on Iran having a nuclear bomb? Didn't Pakistan experience opposition when trying to get the bomb, after India had nuclear capability.

Pakistan developing it was very different. We have an external threat on us from our eastern border from India. Therefore, we have always a defensive deterrent strategy. We have always conventionally maintained forces, which were capable of deterring aggression by India. But then they went nuclear and developed missiles, so that deterrent strategy of ours became untenable. That is when we decided we must restore that imbalance that had been created. We also went nuclear. We had a compulsion. We had a threat to our existence. Iran doesn't have that. Pakistan is against proliferation. Their situation is not that they are threatened by anyone. But they have a right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Tribal leaders, are they the key to turning the tide in Afghanistan and along the remote borders of Pakistan?

Yes, tribal leaders who have influence should be won over. Pashtun tribal leaders have to be won over because they are 50 percent of Afghanistan, and they have been alienated after 9/11. We should have moved toward the Pashtuns after winning against the Taliban with the Northern Alliance. They were not all Taliban, and we should have got the Pashtuns on our side, but we didn't do that. So, in effect, we have actually pushed the Pashtuns toward the Taliban. That has been a wrong strategy. We need to look at who are the Pashtuns who wield influence, and we should get them to our side for a political resolution of the dispute.

Was Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai fairly elected and what kind of job is he doing?

He's not doing a good job. I am only reading from the papers that there has been rigging, although in a place like Afghanistan to expect an absolutely fair election like you would have here in the United States is asking for too much. Karzai is not a popular man at all. I do not know if he has been elected correctly or not, but he is not popular with the people and over the last eight years he hasn't done much.

Would you be interested in getting back into politics?

Well, according to the constitution of Pakistan I am restricted. I am not allowed to enter into politics for two years from after I left office, the office of the chief of army staff. That two years ends in November. Now, after that, one has to see if I can do something for Pakistan better than what is happening because it is in a bad state. Then another thing, obviously, I have to come through the democratic process, the election process. So I have to see how much people support I have.

Mackenzie Carpenter's video program, "Omnivore," is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.