Death of Opposition Commander Not to Affect Future Afghan Government: Musharraf

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf said in Islamabad Saturday the death of anti-Taliban Northern Alliance commander Abdul Haq will have no impact on Afghanistan's future political setup.

Speaking at a press conference after holding talks with Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, Musharraf said that Haq was a "freedom fighter" in the anti-Soviet war and then he went abroad and did not have a role to play.

"I don't think that his not being on the scene will have any impact whatsoever on the political disposition," said the president.

Abdul Haq was arrested early Friday in Afghanistan and was executed by the Taliban regime in the afternoon. He was 42 and was believed to be a hero in the anti-Soviet war in the 1980s.

To a question about the Afghan refugees, Musharraf said that at least two million Afghan refugees would flood into Pakistan if the borders between the two countries were reopened.

For the time being, Pakistan's border with Afghanistan remains closed to prevent a major influx of Afghan refugees. Pakistan has already been hosting more than two million Afghan refugees as a result of the long-running war in Afghanistan.






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