Pakistan President denied deal with U.S.
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September 30, 2001
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharra on Sunday categorically denied that there was any deal between Pakistan and United States in return of Islamabad's fullest cooperation in the fight against terrorism following the September 11 terror attacks in America.
In an interview with CNN, President Musharraf clarified that the U.S. and the other donor countries are extending economic support to Pakistan purely in view of its critical role being front line State against the new war against terrorism and its poor economic conditions.
Continuing, the president said certainly there is a fall out on the economic conditions of Pakistan following New York and Washington tragedy.
Replying to a question, he said that "we have been urging the United States that any US action about its war against terrorism must have the UN umbrella other wise the world countries particularly the Muslim States would be having anxiety and reservations in this regard."
About OIC's role in the prevailing situation, Musharraf said that OIC Foreign Ministers meeting is going to be held on October 9 and "I believe that these deliberations would certainly help remove specific misunderstandings among the Muslim countries about the potential US policy towards fighting terrorism."
Asked whether the government of Pakistan would take action against the "terrorist groups" stationed in Pakistan, the President emphatically stated NO, saying "I would like to explain there is no terrorist group operating in Pakistan."
He, however, said that Harkatul Mujahideen has reportedly been operating in the occupied Kashmir, it has no offices in Pakistan at all. As regards, the other organisation Al-Rashid Trust whose accounts have been frozen by the US, is said to be purely an NGO having no concern with armed struggle elsewhere.
When asked is there any threat to the nuclear assets of Pakistan going down in the hands of the extremist groups, President Musharraf said "we have very effective command and control system, our armed forces are very much disciplined, we have a foolproof mechanism of controlling and preserving our nuclear assets, so there is no question of any such eventuality."
Asked if the Taliban are a liability for Pakistan in the present situation, Musharraf said as such Pakistan has been facing diplomatic pressure from the world community due to its frontline State role in the emerging situation, it is natural that there have been certain problems for us due to intransigence of Taliban.
The world community expects them to extradite Osama bin Laden for a fair trial being the main suspect in the September 11 carnage and release of eight aid workers detained in Afghanistan for preaching Christianity.
As regards Pakistan, "we have been continuing our diplomatic overtures to convince and moderate the Taliban, asking them to be responsive to the demands of the internatio nal community but the signals coming out from Afghanistan are not very encouraging".
However, Musharraf said that "we see some flexibility in the attitude of the Taliban after the Ulema Council decree and still there is a hope and that is why we have been and we will continue interaction with the Taliban to moderate them to the extent as we could."
Asked whether Pakistan has decided to allow and to be a part of any military action against Afghanistan, Musharraf said "the United States has not come out with a ny specific plan yet, they have not shared their potential strategy with us so certainly such cooperation needs to be considered after all such information and action plan is shared with Pakistan.
Musharraf, however, said "we have indications that the United States may share the evidence with the world community at least those parts having no confidentiality."
When asked whether the religious going to be source of breeding and harboring extremism in Pakistan, the President explained that 7000 to 8000 religious madaris in the country are providing education, lodging and boarding facilities to about 700,000 to 8000,000 students free of cost and thus contributing significantly in the overall promotion of education.
"But all the religious madaris are not involved in breeding or harbouring extremism. Only a few institutions with political or religious affiliations might be contributing to religious extremism to some extent."
In order to check all these activities, the president said, the government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to improve standard of education in these madaris by introducing modern courses and techniques in addition to religious education.
Asked if he faced any threat from the religious extremists opposing your government's vocal policies to join the world coalition in the fight against terrorism, President Musharraf said "I would divide the Pakistani population into three categories i.e, religious extremists, who are a small minority; secondly, middle and upper class, mostly moderate Muslims and thirdly the lower middle class, having no comprehension of the emerging situation.
"In my address to the nation, I primarily addressed to this group of population and I understand that I have been able to get my point through. So there is no question of instability as the dominating majority is supporting the government policies."
About revival of democracy in the country, the president reiterated that "we will follow the roadmap announced earlier to restore democracy next year in the country as it is in our own national interest."[ SEPTEMBER HOMEPAGE ] [ AFGHAN HISTORY ]
