Pervez Musharraf was his charming, urbane self when I met him for a quick interview in his office at Army House, Rawalpindi. The general seems to be in a mood for interviews and was willing to explain himself to anybody who is willing to listen, including his pet Pekinese dogs. He had, in fact, just finished an exhaustive, hour-long interview, expanding at length on his strategy to save Pakistan’s democracy, to the seven-year-old reporter from the local Tiny Tots Tattler, when I was shown in.

The general sat behind a massive rosewood table, the two-dozen medals adorning his left lapel glinting impressively under the chandeliers...

MUSHARRAF: Asalaam alaiqum. You from India? Sit down, sit down. Okay shoot.

ME: Beg your pardon, General? (alarmed at the prospect of a military engagement).

MUSHARRAF: Arrey, ask your questions. Make it quick. I am meeting at least 40 journalists today to explain my secret strategy to save Pakistani democracy.

ME: (With great tentativeness) General, the whole world wants to know when you plan to shed your uniform.

MUSHARRAF: Maaf karna, excuse me, but this is a third-rate question. Shed my uniform, shed my uniform? Arrey, how can I, Musharraf, shed my uniform just like that? Would that not be positively indecent? How will a conservative society like Pakistan’s accept a general without his uniform? Think madam, think. I only want to spare Pakistan’s sentiments and feelings . ..

ME (hastily interrupting him): No, no, General! What I meant was when are you giving up the post of army chief, as you promised?

... contd.