Islamabad, Pakistan – Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden took direct aim at faltering Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in a recording released Thursday that could portend greater instability for the nation at a time when it is already experiencing deep political turmoil.
Bin Laden, who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan’s remote tribal regions, was unusually single-minded in the new 23-minute recording.
He focused his wrath almost exclusively on the U.S.-allied general and called on Pakistanis to rise up in revolt.
“I tell Pervez and his army: Your betrayal of your nation and people has been exposed,” bin Laden said, adding later that it was the duty of Pakistan’s Muslims to “carry out jihad and fighting to remove Pervez, his government, his army and those who help him.”
The message from bin Laden was his third this month, and it followed by a day the release of a recording from al-Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahri that also threatened Musharraf. U.S. intelligence officials continued to study the new tapes but said they appeared to be authentic.
The tapes seemed to underline Pakistan’s evolving status as a prime target for al-Qaeda, in addition to being the organization’s operational base. The country’s military, led by Musharraf, has long had links to radical Islamic organizations but is now seen as the enemy by those groups because of the president’s U.S. ties.
With moderate Pakistanis pushing him for a return to democracy, Musharraf has become increasingly isolated and is now struggling for political survival.
The government announced Thursday that presidential elections will be held Oct. 6. But with just over two weeks to go, much about the election, and about Musharraf’s future, remains in doubt.
The president is believed to have the votes he needs in the parliament and provincial assemblies to win a new five-year term. But the Supreme Court could rule him ineligible, with opposition lawyers arguing that Musharraf’s other job as army chief disqualifies him.
Political opponents, pushing for a return to civilian rule eight years after a military-led coup brought Musharraf to power, have protested his decision to seek another term from the current assemblies, which came to office in tainted elections in 2002, and have threatened to quit parliament.
