Musharraf says recognizing Taliban regime in Afghanistan Pak's biggest 'blunder'

Former military strongman General (retired) Pervez Musharraf has reportedly termed Pakistan's decision to recognize the Taliban regime in Afghanistan "a blunder."

However, he blamed the West and the United States for the birth of Al Qaeda and for leaving Pakistan "high and dry" after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, reported the Dawn.

While addressing a Youth Parliament Convention on Thursday, he remarked that Pakistan has to suffer because of U.S.' wrong policies as the nation had to fight on two fronts simultaneously in 1979, which increased the size of the military.

The Islamic Mujahideen were introduced to take on the Soviet Union in 1979 but were not looked after once the mission was accomplished and Soviets were driven out of Afghanistan in 1989, Musharraf said.

He said that Taliban who were fighting in Afghanistan were "ethnic Pakhtuns" and added that the identity was given to them by Pakistan.