NEW YORK, March 5 Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has severely criticised US President Barack Obama for setting a time-line for withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

Gen (retd) Musharraf, who is on a lecture tour told a Palm Beach radio station “I believe instead of having it time related, like he said we'll leave in July of 2011, it should be 'effect related'.”

“He shouldn't have spoken about time; he should have said 'we are going to win and we are going to hand it over to the Afghan national army. This will be possible probably in two years. And quit in two years. But if it does not, we'll stay on'.”

The retired general lives in London, will be in Seattle for a dinner and talk at the Bellevue Westin on March 14. The event, with ticket prices starting at $100, is open to the public.

The local chapter of Friends of Pakistan First decided to invite Musharraf here after seeing that he was coming to the US in March for a series of lectures. —Correspondent