File pic - Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf

Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has said that Hafiz Saeed’s terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba is not a ‘militant outfit’ and termed it as the best NGO of his country.

Speaking to a private Indian news channel, Musharraf said that Saeed is an educated man and his NGO had helped the Pakistanis in several instances, during earthquakes and floods.

“Hafiz Saeed is an educated man, an engineer. LeT is the best NGO of Pakistan as they did a lot of work during floods," he said.

"I do not accept that Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist. If I were a lawyer I would have fought his case in the court. If I was a President then I would have fought his case in UN," Musharraf added.

Asked about Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, who was killed by Indian forces in July in Kashmir, Musharraf said that the policies of the ‘(Indian) government forced him to take up arms’.

"Indian military forced Wani to pick up arms and fight because they harassed his family," Musharraf said.

“The terrorists are volunteers playing on their lives because of the sympathy and emotional attachment they have for the Kashmiris,” he added.

He further claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a ‘warmonger’ and doesn’t want to resolve old age issue between the two sides through talks.

He also rejected New Delhi’s charge that the Pakistani government and the Army were helping terrorist groups based in the country to plot attacks in Indian cities.

Further describing PM Modi’s visit to Lahore an artificial act, he said, “PM Modi is a warmonger. The PM can visit Lahore and kiss PM Nawaz as many times as he wants."

Tensions between the two sides increased following the Indian Army’s surgical strike in PoK targeting terror launch pads. The surgical strike was carried out after four heavily armed Pakistani terrorists attacked an Indian Army bases in Uri district of Kashmir, claiming the lives of 18 jawans.

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