News & Views

Lead stories: Dated:30-09-2006

Musharraf seeks world assistance to fight terror

LONDON: President Pervez Musharraf asked for understanding and assistance in the fight against terror, which Pakistan is spearheading against al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Addressing a packed hall of the Oxford Union Debating Society on Friday afternoon, the president argued that Pakistan’s role in the war on terror had to be understood in its historical perspective.

Tracing the rise of extremism in Pakistan, the president said things were fine until the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 when a ‘Jihad’ was launched by the West with Pakistan in the key role. About 20,000 to 30,000 ‘Mujahideen’ and Taliban, or students from ‘Madrassas’, were trained to fight the Soviets. (The News)

World’s help needed to fight terror: Musharraf

OXFORD, Sept 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday said Pakistan was fighting terrorism and extremism to the best of its ability but it needed the world’s assistance to combat the malaise that had afflicted the country after the defeat of Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

Speaking at the Oxford Union Debating Society of the Oxford University, he said that Mujahideen, who were brought, trained and financed by the West to fight Soviet troops, coalesced to form Al Qaeda after the withdrawal of the invading troops. (The Dawn)

NWA-like deal not possible in Balochistan

LONDON - President General Pervez Musharraf has said that being a true lover of democracy he admits that democracy in Pakistan could not function properly but he would do his best to put it on the right track. 

He gave vent to these ideas while addressing Oxford University Students Union here on Thursday.  (The Nation)

Comments:

President Pervez Musharraf has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fight terrorism and extremism to the best of its abilities. At the same time he called upon the international community to help and assist Pakistan to combat this menace that have caused problems for the country after the defeat of Soviet forces in Afghanistan. He was addressing the Oxford Union Debating Society of the Oxford University. Dilating on the subject he said “Mujahideen, who were brought, trained and financed by the West to fight Soviet troops, joined together to form Al Qaeda after the withdrawal of the invading troops.”  What is more, “the Taliban from religious schools were also recruited, financed and armed by the United States and the West, and supported by Pakistan against the Soviet forces.” It is a well known fact that after the Soviet defeat the West hurriedly packed its baggage and left Afghanistan. Pakistan was in a helpless situation. It had to deal with 30,000 Mujahideen and over four million Afghan refugees. In this background it is becomes quite evident that terrorism is not a “Pakistani phenomenon but an import to the country. Therefore the entire international community is to blame for this global menace that has threatened international peace and security.

He flayed attempts by those who criticize Pakistan as an extremist country. While vast majority of people of Pakistan are moderate and tolerant, there are handful of people that are involved in terrorist and militant activities. Pakistan has adopted a holistic strategy to fight terrorism and extremism, as it firmly believes that military action alone is not the answer and will not wipe out terrorism. The fight against terrorism cannot meet with success unless the problem of extremism is adequately addressed. For this reason it is giving enough attention to the other equally important ‘aspects of addressing the underlying causes’ of this phenomenon.” While going after the terrorists on its own soil and extending full cooperation in international efforts to combat terror, Pakistan is doing something which is clearly in its own interest. However unlike other countries, Pakistan is pursuing a comprehensive approach in dealing with the terrorist threat understanding the actual environments.  Although it has deployed 75000 troops on its western borders to check the activities of al-Qaeda and Taliban activists as well as other extremists in the country, it recognizes the fact that military action is not an end in itself, as it does not and cannot provide an enduring solution to extremism.