Zardari calls Hamid Gul political ideologue of terror

NEW YORK: - President Asif Ali Zardari has described former ISI Chief Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul as "more of a political ideologue of terror rather than a physical supporter" in an interview with Newsweek.
Replying to a question whether US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice him to arrest Gen. Gul, he said, "Hamid Gul is an actor who is definitely not in our good books. Hamid Gul is somebody who was never appreciated by our government. She [Rice] did not go into specifics, if I may share that with you."
"He (Gen. Gul) has not been accused in the Mumbai incident … I think he is more of a political ideologue of terror rather than a physical supporter," Zardari added.
In the interview, the President also made it clear that Pakistan's intelligence agencies are no longer backing outlawed groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which will not be allowed to use the country's soil for any acts of aggression.
"There is no supportive interaction with our intelligence (agencies) and the LeT. Lashkar-e-Taiba happens to be a banned organisation in Pakistan," Zardari said, referring to the organization India has blamed for planning and carrying out the Mumbai terror attacks.
The links between the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency and the LeT were developed "in the old days when dictators used to run the country". After the 9/11 terror attacks in the US, "things have changed to a great extent", Zardari added.
QUESTION: Do you control Pakistan or does the Army control Pakistan?
ANSWER: Democracy controls Pakistan … All the players today understand that democracy is the only way.
Speaking before the Pakistan government ordered a crackdown on the LeT last Sunday, Zardari said the government would not allow anybody "to use Pakistan soil for any form of aggression toward any friend or foe".