God forbid if Pakistan implodes, warns Benazir

Bhutto 54 also spoke about her dream of eliminating militant groups to usher stability in crisis-ridden Pakistan and her desire to work with India and Afghanistan.

8220;I have a dream that Pakistan can achieve stability by knocking out these militant groups, and we can work with India and Afghanistan to stir each other, and all our people can benefit from it,8221; said the charismatic Leader of the Opposition Pakistan People8217;s Party PPP.

Bhutto, who returned to Pakistan after a eight-year self-imposed exile and survived a bid on her life early this month, indicated that her biggest regret was the emergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan during her second spell in office between 1993 and 1996.

8220;Pakistan and other countries thought when the Taliban first came up it would be a factor for peace and help war-torn Afghanistan heal its wounds, That was a terrible mistake and a terrible tragedy,8221; she said.

Over a decade later, Bhutto, a mother of two daughters and a son, feels that she may have erred on the Taliban issue.

8220;I may have erred but in my heart and I know that the love for my people, the love that I have for democracy, the respect that I have for democracy, the respect that I have for human dignity are the loves that I have pursued in my life. I don8217;t know how history will judge me8211;I would like to leave that to history8211; but I know that I have always tried to do my best for my country,8221; she said.

Bhutto said her country was going through a 8216;critical period8217; in its history.

8220;We have seen the emergence of extremist groups and a high level of insecurity,8221; she said, adding her endeavour will be to ensure the security of life for all the people of Pakistan.

Bhutto said it was 8216;vital8217; to dismantle the terrorist cells and put an end to warlordism through education and employment initially.

8220;Most countries deplore these links and we really want to clean up our country and be respected as a law-abiding nation,8221; she added.

Bhutto also answered criticism over the 8216;understanding8217; she reached with Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf ahead of a possible power-sharing deal.

8220;I know there is criticism in some quarters about my having reached an understanding with General Musharraf, but the aim of my party has been always to take military dictatorship out of the equation, and we have tried to do that through negotiation as well as through street pressure,8221; she said.

Bhutto revealed that she had been offered the dropping of corruption charges for the last ten years if she 8216;gave up the struggle for democracy8217;.

8220;But I always refused,8221; she said acknowledging it is a relief for her to have these charges dropped. So while it is a relief for me to have these charges dropped, it is much more important that we have made important concessions for free elections and safeguarding future parliamentarians from being manipulated by politically motivated allegations,8221; Bhutto said.

The two-time former Premier also said she felt a 8216;special responsibility8217; to her country and have a 8216;Pakistani agenda8217;.