• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Pakistan-Musharraf Musharraf: Militants in religious school behind terrorist activities

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Nov 8, IRNA

Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday again defended the attack on a religious school in the country's tribal region and said the militants trained there were involved in terrorist activities.

This was also the case in the recent Bajur incident where there was evidence that militants were being trained, General Musharraf told top military generals.

There were also intelligence reports about the active involvement of the militant leaders in terrorist activities, a military statement quoted President Musharraf as telling the 99th Corps Commanders Conference at General Headquarters here.

The vice chief of Army Staff, corps commanders and principal staff officers attended the conference.

Extreme care is being exercised to ensure that there is no loss of innocent lives or collateral damage while combating terrorists, General Musharraf said.

The president said that the government will never close the option of dialogue and political settlement and they shall continue despite these actions, but "we will undertake action wherever we find such militant activity."
Terrorism is a threat to our national security which will be combated and crushed at all costs, he said.

In the context of the domestic environment, the president said:
"We must control extremism, sustain economic and democratic reforms and address all issues that are critical to the country's growth and security in the long term."
President General Pervez Musharraf dwelt at length on the international and regional environment and their relevance to the security of Pakistan as well as domestic environment and professional matters.

Talking about the role of the security forces in combating militancy and terrorism, the president said that given the complexity of the issue, various parties try to exploit it for petty vested interests and create gross misperceptions amongst the general public.

The president commended the performance of the security forces who, he said, are engaged in the sacred task in the supreme national interest.

2020/235/2321/1414