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Talibanisation won’t be allowed

* President calls for more Waziristan-like peace deals in other areas

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf has said that the government will not allow the Talibanisation of Pakistani society, nor allow the Taliban to impede development and prosperity.

“The Taliban system will not be allowed to come to the country and the Taliban will not be allowed to hamper the path to development and prosperity. We will continue to move forward to transform Pakistan into a moderate, enlightened, Muslim welfare state,” Gen Musharraf said in his address at a seminar titled ‘Voices of Asia for the process of peace, cooperation and security’, held here on Wednesday at the Institute of Strategic Studies.

He said Pakistan would continue its war against the Taliban and Qaeda for its survival. “We are fighting this war for our security rather than to appease someone else,” he said. He said peace deals like the one with tribal elders in North Waziristan should take place “in other areas” too, an apparent reference to Afghanistan.

The president rejected “baseless charges” made by Afghanistan that Pakistan was aiding the Taliban. “No other country has played a more vital role than Pakistan in the war on terror. This blame game against Pakistan despite its pivotal role in the war against terrorism is a blatant denial of facts. Such a strategy has to be devised that the problems are resolved with a pragmatic approach,” he said.

He said the world should address the economic woes of Asia and extend cooperation with Asian countries. Peace and stability in the world could not be ensured without addressing the basic problems of Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He said the Pakistan-India peace process had made progress on issues like Siachen and Baglihar. “But we cannot overlook the Kashmir issue,” he added. online

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