During a visit to Elon Oct. 12-13, former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf shared his thoughts about the misconceptions that exist between the West and the Islamic world and the challenges facing his native Pakistan. He delivered the keynote address at Fall Convocation, participated in a question-and-answer session with the university community and spoke with political science students during his time on campus.
In his Oct. 12 Convocation address, Musharraf offered a brief history lesson on the rise of Islam, the geopolitical events of the past two centuries that have created deep tensions toward the West, and what can be done to help heal some of those rifts.
In an Oct. 13 news conference followed by a Q&A with the Elon community, Musharraf discussed his vision for the future of his nation, the need for the United States to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan, and how economic development in the Muslim world is critical for reducing terrorism and extremism around the globe. Earlier in the day, Musharraf took part in a discussion with students in an international relations class led by assistant professor Jason Kirk.
Click the links to the right to view several excerpts from Musharraf’s several presentations on campus.