Aaj TV conducted an exclusive interview with former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and his family, with special focus on his mother, on the eve of mother’s day.

Pervez Musharraf was accompanied by his mother and wife Sehba. We asked Musharraf about his first school to which he was quick to respond that his mother was his guiding light and his first learning institution, with his profession being the second.

He added that the military profession did not allow him too much time with family, although he visited his mother and father on weekends.

“Pervez has been much closer to me than my other children,” stated his mother.

She went on to add that she felt he had leadership qualities since his childhood. “No one used to start an event or play any game until Pervez’s arrival; everyone looked up to him for his guidance,” she said.

His mother played a pivotal role in deciding his career.

When his mother heard of an attempt on his life, she prayed for his safety. She was glad to see him safe, later to find him leaving the house after changing his clothes. No one ever asked him why he was going again, because he has a habit of not taking anybody’s advice, she said.

Musharraf talked about the Siachen incident, which he described as a heartrending avalanche, which caused a loss of life that deeply grieved him.

“I have also served there and six of my soldiers were trapped in one such avalanche,” he recalled. “Unfortunately it is really difficult to survive such an avalanche because once you are buried under it, you freeze to death.”

“I just want to say that the area’s nature is totally unfriendly, the Indians suffer more loss compared to us though they spend more too,” he added.

With respect to evacuation from the troubled glacier, Musharraf stated, “A political resolution or compromise should be reached between Pakistan and India; but if people say that Pakistan should withdraw their troops from Siachen giving the excuse that the area is worthless, they should be informed that no part of our country is worthless. This is our land, no one can take it from us and nobody gives their land to anybody else. We ourselves are a power, we have an identity and we should not submit ourselves to such conditions.“

Musharraf reiterated that a mutual resolution with respect to the evacuation of troops should be agreed upon by the two countries.

He said that it is not an easy job to govern a country; he worked for approximately 14 to 16 hours, with no holidays except a rare Turkey tour, during his term as president.

“Musharraf is a good singer, he sings pretty well whenever you insist,” his mother added in a lighter vein.

“He just knows a few songs of Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh and Mehdi Hasan,” added his wife Sehba.