The Hindu : International : Address root causes of terror: Musharraf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 09, 2004

International

International

Address root causes of terror: Musharraf

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, DEC. 8. On the last leg of his tour of western capitals, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf met the French President, Jacques Chirac and the spiritual leader of Ismailis, the Aga Khan here today.

Later at a press conference, Gen. Musharraf defended Pakistan's record over terrorism and said that although there was an active fight against terrorism in military terms, the international community had failed to address the root causes that fuelled it.

"Pakistan happens to be in the forefront of fighting terrorism. But we see the combat as having two dimensions. One dimension is being applied. This is the fighting and the military aggression to which we are contributing the maximum.

"However the second dimension does not seem to have started yet. And this second dimension is the real dimension — the strategic dimension — which is addressing the root causes," he said.

On the question of Indo-Pakistan relations, the Pakistan President said there was a healthy improvement in ties which was in the interest of both countries. His country was in the midst of a "societal transformation" towards becoming a moderate Islamic state. "In the past extremist organisations sprang up and because they were militant and aggressive they held the vast moderate majority to ransom. We are now ensuring that the moderate majority rises up to dominate the extremist minority."

Defence cooperation was one of the subjects discussed with Mr. Chirac, although no details were given about Pakistan's arms shopping list.

The Pakistan President insisted the path to long-term success in reducing Islamic militancy lay in reducing poverty and illiteracy, and above all, in finding a solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. "The Palestinian dispute has laid down roots everywhere. Look at Iraq. I agree that the U.S. military campaign there has to be sustained or there will be total instability. But the essential strategy is a resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute. Its resolution will have effects everywhere. It will strike at the core of terrorism."

Gen. Musharraf said Pakistani forces in the so-called tribal areas along the Afghan border had scored major successes against Islamic insurgents linked to the former Taliban regime, and the Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden had been rendered inoperational.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section