Pervez Musharraf talks nukes to regain his lost prominence in Pakistan

After lying low for months, beleaguered Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf seemed to be aiming at regaining his lost prominence as he played the anti-India card in an interview with a local channel.

Flexing muscles on account of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, the former Pakistan Army chief said India's "anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan" Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not "plan any misadventure".

He also blasted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for going soft on Modi. "Look at the attitude of this Pakistan government with regard to Modi. If you look at Modi's reality, quite clearly he is anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan. There is no doubt about that," he said.

Musharraf also claimed that there was no reason "why we should be treating him (Modi) like a vice-roy or sending our people to him like subjects to salute him".

"There is no reason at all (to do so), we are a strong nation. We will see what he (Modi) does... we are a nuclear power, we have a population of 20 crore. Let there be no doubt in his mind or in the mind of Indians about the fact that we want to live peacefully with honour and dignity. He should not be mistaken (and think) that he can do anything with us," he added.

"Let's wait and watch what his approach towards us and Muslims is before we take any further steps," he said.

Musharraf was the Army chief during the 1999 Kargil war, sparked by the capture of Indian border posts by Pakistani troops, and is said to be the operation's mastermind.

His comments come at a time when relations between India and Pakistan have reached a stalemate after a brief spell of optimism brought by Modi's invitation to Sharif to attend his swearing-in ceremony in May.

The current standoff was triggered by the Pakistan high commissioner's meeting with Kashmiri separatists ahead of foreign secretary level dialogue, despite India's displeasure. The breakdown in talks was followed by a series of ceasefire violations along the border.

Musharraf himself is fighting for relevance since he returned to Pakistan in March last year ahead of general elections, which he could not contest owing to the several court cases against him. Among other things, he has been accused of high treason for declaring emergency in 2007 and the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto.