Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=08/12/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PAKISTAN/TERRORISM (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-326531

BYLINE=HEDA BAYRON

DATELINE=HONG KONG

CONTENT=

HEADLINE: Pakistan Denies Terror Links to London and Egypt Attacks

INTRO: Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz says his country has no links to the recent deadly bombings in London and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, and has vowed to continue to fight terrorism at home. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from Hong Kong, where the Pakistan leader is meeting with investors and government leaders.

TEXT: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Friday his country suffers from a poor image overseas because of recent terror attacks, but that this is unfair.

Three of the four suspected suicide bombers in the July 7th attacks in London were of Pakistani descent and had recently visited the country.

/// AZIZ ACT ///

"The world media projected it as somebody coming from Pakistan and creating trouble. As we discovered later, they were all British nationals. Second, third generation, whose parents or grandparents had gone to England and settled there. So, we didn't send anybody. We're not in that business. We want peace."

/// END ACT ///

Pakistanis were also initially suspected of being behind the deadly bombings in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on July 23rd, but the Egyptian authorities later ruled out any Pakistani connection. Pakistan rounded up more than a dozen suspected militants following the London bombings.

Mr. Aziz says Pakistan will continue to cooperate with the international community to fight terrorism.

/// 2nd AZIZ ACT ///

"We are victims of terrorism, and must, therefore, unite to fight it jointly, rather than seek scapegoats and blame each other. We remain steadfast to combat this menace."

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Aziz is on a three-day visit to Hong Kong to encourage local businessmen to invest in Pakistan.

The prime minister says Asian investors have demonstrated their confidence in his country by entering the bidding for privatization of government assets.

Pakistan's economy, one of the fastest growing in Asia, grew eight-point-four percent in the fiscal year ending in June. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/HB/MQM/TW