President Pervez Musharraf on the final day of his UK visit on Monday urged the West to understand the challenges and problems facing Pakistan and said the country needs to be encouraged and supported in overcoming these obstacles and difficulties.
Addressing senior members of the British media at Hotel Dorchester on Monday morning, the President said his country's success in meeting these challenges will make the world more peaceful and tranquil.
During his interaction which lasted some 70 minutes, the President gave an overview of the various challenges confronting Pakistan and how his government has mapped out strategies to deal with each of these issues.
Federal Ministers Dr Salman Shah, Ahsanullah Khan, and Shahzada Alam Monnoo, State Bank Governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar and Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Dr Maleeha Lodhi were also present on the occasion. The President at the onset declared that his government was a strong believer in independent media and will continue to encourage its growth and free expression.
The President spoke about Pakistan's centrality to the peace in the world given its strategic location and said it was imperative for its allies in the West to help his country through economic and military assistance. "Pakistan's success in meeting these challenges and defeating terror and extremism will contribute to peace and saving the world."
President Musharraf attributed the menace of terrorism and extremism in Pakistan to the fallout of Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan and the failure of USA and the West to support and assist both Pakistan and Afghanistan in dealing with the post 1989 period and leaving the two countries in a lurch.
The President also touched upon the judicial crisis and blamed the former Chief Justice for politicising the legal issue and disturbing national peace and demoralising the people. He defended his November 3 action and termed it necessary to put democracy back on the rail.
Musharraf also reiterated that the upcoming February 18 parliamentary elections would be fair, free, peaceful and transparent and all the possible loopholes have been plugged to ensure the credibility of the polls.
He categorically rejected impression that Pakistan was either dragging its feet or bluffing its Western allies with regard to combating terrorism and extremism.
"We have taken a holistic approach view of the whole situation and have developed strategies to deal with it on the basis of military, political and social aspects."
He said Pakistan needs more access to the European markets, more investments and trade exchanges to develop and widen its industrial base and provide job opportunities for its people in order to alleviate poverty and develop the country. The President also declared that there was no danger of Pakistan's nuclear assets falling into the wrong hands and these were under multi-layered custodial safeguards.
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