He was part of a four-member panel constituted by former US president Bill Clinton for the Bill Clinton Initiative, 2006 annual meeting, to seek financial assistance commitment to help countries across the world in need of funds for their education, health, environment, HIV/AID control and clean potable water programmes.
Musharraf was the third speaker after the president of Columbia Alvaro Uribe Velez and President of Republic of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. They were asked to speak in alphabetical order. Secretary General of European Union Javier Solana followed him. New York Columnist Thomas Friedmann was the moderator. First lady Laura Bush gave opening remarks whereas Bill Clinton introduced the theme of the meeting and welcomed guest speakers.
Before addressing the audience, the compare had asked Musharraf to express his views on the remarks of Pope and Islam and the West. In his brief remarks Musharraf said Pope's remarks were uncalled for and came at a time when efforts were being made to bring peace in the world.
He said that there was need to understand the sensibility of the Muslim World and understand the necessity of bringing religion closer. "We need to build bridges and not to burn," he added. To a question Musharraf said that Pakistan needed trade and not aid. "Its economy has shown robust growth. Pakistan needs market access and equal playing field."
He said with the growth of economy unemployment would go, poverty would be checked and reduced and some contentment would come to the people who were otherwise vulnerable to greed that leads to crime.
Giving historic background of the Taliban, acceptability of al Qaeda in Pakistan he said that Pakistan was left alone after the defeat of Soviet Union and the West just ignored its responsibilities towards its allies. Pakistan catered to the needs of four million Afghans who had entered into Pakistan in search of shelter and food. He said that rise of Taliban and terrorism is the fall out of what the West did with us.
He called upon the international community to understand the deprivation of the underdeveloped world and assist it in its rebuilding programmes. He said that Pakistan has entered into an agreement with the elders in Waziristan and not with the Terrorists.