Former President Pervez Musharraf speaking to the media in Islamabad. -Reuters

ISLAMABAD  Denouncing the claims of secretly backing Taliban during his days in power, former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has observed that a conspiracy was being hatched to weaken Pakistan by launching a malicious campaign against the Army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

He rejected as pack of lies the claim made by David Sanger in his book that drone attacks inside Pakistan started after phone tapping of Pakistani Generals by American agencies led to the disclosure of Army`s secret deal with the Taliban.

`How can we side with the people attacking us`, he questioned while talking to reporters at the residence of his old friend Brig (retd) Niaz here on Monday.

Musharraf pointed out that he himself had a narrow escape when more than one murder attempts were made on him.

He said Army was under attack and had suffered 1500 casualties while ISI and Pakistan Air Force have also suffered a great loss in the fight against terror.

Addressing David Sanger he said `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`.

He said he never double dealt and pointed out that it was not possible to keep it secret as countries including China and Japan also have concern over terrorism and extremism.

Former president said Pakistan had been part of coalition in fight against terrorism and the coalition partners were on-board all along.

Asked if an official response from the government and the ISPR should also come, Musharraf said Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani has been the Director General ISI and knows about all the realities from very beginning. Musharraf said he was sure that Gen Kayani will do whatever he deems fit in the interest of Pakistan.

He also rejected as figment of Sanger`s imagination, the claim that he had told Ms Benazir Bhutto before her return to Pakistan that her safety and security was dependent on the nature of her relationship with him, saying he is not the person of this kind. He termed it as an ugly attempt to link him with the assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto.

He indicated that he had no intention to take some legal action against David Sanger and said `Sanger should go to the Court if he thinks I am lying`.

Musharraf refused to comment on the Swat peace deal, but said public has the right to speedy justice.

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

He said Pakistan was to get 150 million dollars annually and Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) were to be set up but lamented that these promises were never fulfilled.

About the Mumbai episode, he said if some Pakistani individuals were involved in acts which fall in the definition of terrorism, action should be taken against them.

Musharraf said the facts cannot be concealed from the world. He said Pakistan was a nuclear and missile state and nobody should have doubts about its strength.