Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former president and military ruler, has issued a stark warning that any attempt to weaken the country’s army and intelligence services would lead to defeat at the hands of Islamist militants.

“There is a conspiracy to malign the Pakistan army and the ISI (Inter Services Intelligence agency). If you weaken the army and the ISI you will lose the war on terror,” he said in response to the publication of a book detailing links between the army and Islamist militants besieging the country.