ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: De-

nouncing claims that he secretly supported the Taliban during his days in power, former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf said on Monday that a conspiracy was being hatched to weaken Pakistan by launching a “malicious campaign” against the Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

He dismissed as a “pack of lies” a claim made by New York Times journalist David Sanger in his new book, “The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the challenges to American power”, that drone attacks inside Pakistan started after phone tapping by American agencies convinced decision-makers in Washington that some Pakistani generals were in league with the Taliban.

“How can we side with the people attacking us,” he wondered.

The former president was talking to reporters at the residence of his friend, Brig (retd) Niaz.

He told David Sanger: “Get your facts corrected before you talk or write something. You have written something which is total distortion and absolutely incorrect. I do not know what your idea is. Is it meant to create sensation so that your book sells well or the idea is to be a part of the malicious campaign against me, Pakistan Army and the ISI?”

About allegations of double-dealing, he said it was not possible to keep a deal secret because countries like China and Japan had also expressed concern over the growing terrorism and extremism.

The former general said Pakistan had been part of US-led allies in the war on terror and they had been taken into confidence on all decisions.

Asked if he sought an official response to allegations from the government and the army, Pervez Musharraf said Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had been the ISI director general and he knew everything from “very beginning”.

He said he found the timing intriguing for such charges, but refrained from saying anything about who was behind this conspiracy. He only said that the war on terror would be lost if Pakistan was weakened.

Pervez Musharraf also rejected as “figment” Mr Sanger’s claim that he had told former prime minister Benazir Bhutto before her return to Pakistan that her safety and security depended on the nature of her cooperation with him.

“I am not the person of this kind,” he said, adding that it was an “ugly attempt” to link him with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

He said he had no intention to take legal action against David Sanger, adding: “Sanger should go to court if he thinks I am telling a lie.”

Musharraf refused to comment on the Swat peace deal, but said that people had a right to speedy justice.

He said military operation was no solution to the problem and it must be accompanied by political, social and economic measures.

He said Pakistan had been assured of $150 million in annual assistance and establishment of reconstruction opportunity zones in Fata, but these promises had never been fulfilled.

In reply to a question about the proclamation of emergency by him, he said that everything had been done with a rationale. “One takes a decision accordingly when a situation arises.”

About Mumbai attack investigations, he said that if Pakistani individuals were found involved in acts falling under the terrorism law, an action should be taken against them. He said the facts could not be concealed from the world.