In an interview with the ABC News, Musharraf recalled Sharif’s alleged meetings with Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and described him as “abrasive and confrontational”.

“He has never been on good terms with any president of Pakistan, so I don’t know what kind of mental make-up he has. But the man is abrasive against the other power brokers of Pakistan,” he said.

Should Musharraf decide to return to politics, he is likely to face Nawaz Sharif who has campaigned for his trial on treason charges. But Musharraf said that he “will return to Pakistan” despite the possibility of facing trial as soon as he sets foot in the country. Recently in an interview with a private Pakistani TV channel, Musharraf claimed that Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz had assured him that he would ask Sharif to abandon the campaign for his trial.

The former general even went so far as to call Sharif a ‘closet Taleban.’ The slur was apparently meant to affirm lingering Western apprehension that Sharif has fundamentalist leanings.

“Even on Pakistan television these days, talk shows are going on saying that he has met Osama bin Laden — five times before 9/11 — and he has been financed by Osama bin Laden,” Musharraf said. “Then the other element is that he never speaks against terrorism and extremism.”

But when pressed for proof of Sharif’s meetings with bin Laden, Musharraf said he personally could not offer any.

“No, I can’t do that, but certainly there are people who vouch for it, who were present there,” Musharraf said.

This was Musharraf’s first-ever direct assault on his tormentor whom he blames for his ouster. He appears to have softened towards his real nemesis, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry whom he once termed as “scum of the earth”. Last week Musharraf said it was his mistake to sack Justice Iftikhar adding that perhaps he would not repeat that if he gets another chance.

On the possibility of his trial on return, Musharraf said: “Well, these are realities which one has to face. But I am very sure of one thing — that whatever I have done till now, constitutionally and legally, there is no charge against me,” Musharraf said.

When asked if he will try to return to power, Musharraf would not answer the question directly.

“Well, I give thought to what is happening in Pakistan. And I give thought to what the people of Pakistan are desiring, and whether I can do anything for Pakistan,” Musharraf said. “Collectively, I have to make a decision based on all these three elements.”

Commenting on the leak of McChrystal’s security assessment that called for additional US troops to fight in Afghanistan, Musharraf said President Barack Obama should have complied “yesterday” with Gen. Stanley A. McChyrstal’s recommendation to send more US troops to Afghanistan

In the assessment, McChrystal said more troops alone cannot achieve success “but will enable implementation of the new strategy. Conversely, inadequate resources will likely result in failure.” “I think you should take it immediately. You should have taken it yesterday,” Musharraf said.

Musharraf said he “absolutely” believes there is a need for more troops in Afghanistan. Sending more troops could also mean an increase in casualties, something Musharraf says the US should be prepared for. “We must avoid, as much as possible, casualties. But when soldiers move and armies act, casualties will be there, and we should accept casualties,” Musharraf said.

“We have to win,” the former general said. “And quitting is not an option.”

Musharraf even proposed what he called a ‘drastic’ measure to secure the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “As far as I’m concerned, we should mine it so that people can’t go across,” Musharraf said. While he acknowledged that mines are a controversial weapon, Musharraf argued that it is an “unusual war.”

mafzalkhan101@yahoo.com