President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday called upon the tribesmen to help frustrate terrorism and extremism in their areas and maintain peace for development and solidarity of the motherland.
Addressing a grand tribal Jirga here at the Governor House the President dwelt at length on the menace and its internal, regional and global implications.
He urged the tribal elders to curb terrorism and extremism through the traditional Jirga system to pave the way for the federal government to minimise the deployment of the security forces and consequently withdraw them from the tribal areas.
He impressed upon the Jirga that the terrorist elements were pursuing their own selfish agenda and they were neither well-wishers of the tribesmen nor of Islam.
The President explained how the activities of these elements had brought name to Islam, which contrary to its message of peace and harmony was misperceived as a religion of intolerance, militancy and terrorism in the eyes of foreign nations.
As long as the terrorist elements remained active in the tribal areas, this impression could not be removed, he added.
Musharraf said it was embarrassing to hear complaints about spread of terrorism from high dignitaries of the friendly countries, especially a country like China with whom "our relations are deeper than oceans and higher than mountains".
It was, therefore, imperative to take drastic actions to curb the menace of terrorism and extremism, he said.
Referring to the notion of Talibanisation, the President said Islam does not allow anybody to impose his will and ideas on others. The President said that the country was standing on a crossroads and failure to pursue the path of wisdom would have serious consequences.
"The nation demands sacrifice and solidarity and I am sure you will not hesitate to play your role in the sacred task," he told the tribal Jirga.
Musharraf advised the tribesmen to differentiate between their well-wishers and foes and said that the foreign terrorists were using "our soil for the fulfilment of their nefarious designs and putting them in trouble."
"I assure you that these foreigners are not your friends and they are here to fulfil their own agenda which has no concern with Islam", he said.
Referring to the Bajaur incident, he said it involved a violation of the country's sovereignty, but he drew attention of the tribes to the presence of foreign elements who were constantly using Pakistani soil for terrorism and breaching the country's sovereignty.
"Have they (foreigners) valid documents to stay on our soil or have they been allowed to be here?" he asked.
He said this was the time to act with wisdom and sagacity and asked the tribesmen to play their role for national development and progress and to thwart those trying to block their development and welfare.
He promised that he would double the annual development programme for Fata from rupees five billion to rupees ten billion annually provided peace and tranquility was maintained in their areas.
Musharraf also promised that they would be accorded duty free access to market for their industries and there would be other developmental projects in the areas. "I am ready to sanction any mega project in Fata if the people co-operate with the government in its endeavour to purge their areas from the elements of terror and extremism", he assured.
The Jirga was also addressed by the NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman while the address of welcome was presented by Malik Waris Khan Afridi, Malik Khan Jan of North Waziristan. The elders assured the President of all out support to the present government in its endeavours.
The Jirga was also attended by the NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, Federal Ministers Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Yar Mohammad Rind and Amir Muqam.