Musharraf on Hafiz Saeed statements: Not scared of Indian or international pressure

Former Pakistan Army chief and President Pervez Musharraf has said -- he was asked about his recent statements on Hafiz Saeed -- that he is not scared of Indian or international pressure.

Musharraf had recently said he is the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) "biggest supporter" and that he is aware that they "like" him too.

He had added then that he is similarly appreciative of LeT co-founder and the man thought to be the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Saeed.

Musharraf's latest statements were made to Pakistani TV news channel AAJ News.

"Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamat-ud-Dawa should not be banned. They are doing good work. US can’t dictate terms to us about who we should arrest. They are not terrorists," Musharraf told AAJ News.

The Jamat-ud-Dawa is thought to be a front for the LeT, which has been banned by India, the US, and the UN.

Watch interview below:

In the interview to AAJ News, Musharraf added that successive Pakistani government knew about the Lashkar's terror activities in Kashmir.

"Lashkar has been there since 1991. It grew through the successive governments of Benazir Bhuttoo and Nawaz Sharif. They knew what Lashkar was doing in Kashmir. Can they deny it now?" Musharraf told AAJ News.

"I am not scared of Indian or international repercussion. Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamat-ud-Dawa should not be banned. They are doing good work."

"Lashkar has made maximum sacrifices for us in Kashmir. It’s a good organisation, not a terror group. If Lashkar wants to contest elections, why not?" he added.

Musharraf also added that he would welcome an electoral alliance with Hafiz Saeed and his newly-launched Milli Muslim League in the 2018 Pakistani general elections.

"If it has to happen, it will happen. By all means, I would welcome that," said Musharraf.

Musharraf is currently living in exile in London.

He has also set up a political party -- the All Pakistan Muslims League.