Pledging to root out terrorism permanently from Pakistani soil, President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said the composite dialogue with India starting next month should be pursued with sincerity to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue. Following up on his commitment to Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee earlier this month that he would not permit any territory under Pakistan’s control to be used to support terrorism in any manner, Musharraf, in his first address to the joint sitting of Parliament, said: ``I appeal to you and Pakistan nation to wage Jehad against extremism.’’
| That sounds suspiciously like a call to fight evil with evil, but maybe that's just me... |
In an apparent reference to the Indian charge of cross-border terrorism against Pakistan, Musharraf said: ``There are allegations being levelled against us with regard to Kashmir. To get out of this... we have to find a peaceful and just solution to the Kashmir issue... Agreement reached should be pursued with good intentions and sincerity, keeping in mind the aspirations of the people of Kashmir to take this process forward.’’
| Perv's problem is that the jihadis have been rogue for at least the past year, and more likely two years. So have elements of ISI. It's okay when they're booming civilians in Srinagar. It's okay when they're bumping each other off. It's not okay when they try to hit him. But Hafiz Saeed hasn't met with an unfortunate accident yet, so maybe they're only showing rogue and all this is for American consumption... |
Maintaining that Pakistan has become a nuclear power, he said its capability in nuclear and missile technology was in its ``national interest’’. ``We are a responsible state and we will not allow proliferation,’’ he said, adding, ``we should not only maintain but strengthen this capability. We are proud of our armed forces. They have always played a key role and will continue to play a key role in Pakistan’s development.’’
| Through coup after coup, Pakland's military has always been there. They've never won a war, but they've been there. |
Observing that majority of the Pakistani people were ``moderates’’, Musharraf said there was a section which was ``wrongly interpreting Islam for their ulterior motives’’ and trying to mislead the people with their ``narrow and sectarian perceptions. Such sections weaken the country from within’’.The General also emphasised his support for the US-led war on terror, vowing to hunt down Al Qaeda and Taliban militants thought to be orchestrating attacks in Afghanistan from the safety of Pakistan’s tribal regions. ``We have to act with full force against the foreign elements in tribal areas who can stir up terrorism,’’ he said.
| Not to mention Karachi and Lahore... |
Musharraf spoke amidst booing and jeering from Opposition benches. Some Opposition members walked out of the joint session shortly after he began his speech and others drowned out his words with shouts of ``Down with dictatorships’’, ``Go Musharraf go!’’ and ``No Musharraf no!’’. The protests were led by supporters of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
| Democracy without a commitment to liberty, becomes just another form of oligarchy... |
Meanwhile, two domestic flights carrying top Opposition leaders and ruling lawmakers were diverted from the Capital ahead of Musharraf’s address. A PIA flight from Lahore to Islamabad, carrying high-profile PML (N) lawmaker Tehmina Daulatana and MMA leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed among others, was diverted to Peshawar. Another flight from Karachi to Islamabad, which was also carrying prominent Opposition and ruling members, was diverted to Lahore. |