M A I N   N E W S

Pervez sounds positive on resolving
disputes with India

Islamabad, July 21
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf tonight said he was hopeful of resolving all disputes with India, including Jammu and Kashmir, peacefully and judiciously.

“We want peace in the region. That is why we are talking to India to resolve all disputes because of which we have fought three wars,” he said in a televised address to the nation.

“We want a judicious resolution to all disputes, above all Kashmir issue which should be solved as per the wishes of Kashmiris,” Mr Musharraf said.

Expressing hope that all issues, including Kashmir, will be resolved, he said this would help usher in peace in the region.

Mr Musharraf said “some people” were against the efforts to resolve Indo-Pak disputes peacefully.

“These are the people who are trying to take Pakistan behind in time. These are all wrong decisions,” he said.

The President said everyone should join him to fight terror.

Taking note of allegations that madarsas and seminaries were being used as training grounds for militants and extremists, Mr Musharraf directed those which have not been registered to do so by December this year.

He said he had been asking these bodies for the past three years to get themselves registered but they had not been forthcoming.

The General said he was now giving them a last chance to do the needful. — PTI

Passes buck, asks UK to act on terror

Islamabad, July 21
Under mounting pressure after the London attacks and accused of not doing enough to tackle terrorism, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf tonight said there were extremist organisations operating with impunity in Britain and it should do something about it.

In a televised address to the nation, General Musharraf said it was unfortunate that Pakistan was either directly or indirectly dragged into all terror attacks and Islam was being denigrated.

Referring to the London terror strikes, he said three of the four accused had Pakistani parentage. But they were British nationals, born, educated and bred in England.

General Musharraf said one of the extremist organisations in Britain had passed an edict on his life but continued to operate freely. While a lot need to be done internally in Pakistan, “a lot needs to be done in the UK”.

General Musharraf argued that if three of the four accused in the London blasts had been indoctrinated as alleged, what about the fourth accused, a Jamaican?

Observing that Pakistan was passing through trying times, General Musharraf said instead of blaming and accusing each other, the correct strategy would be to support one another in the joint fight against terrorism.

He regretted that Islam was being dubbed as an extremist religion which was intolerant and backs terrorism and fundamentalism whereas the religion has clearly spelt out that killing of even one human being is against the entire humanity. — PTI