Says West, allies must focus on Muslims' problems to eradicate terrorism; Musharraf urges Taliban problem be dealt with in Afghanistan; Shaukat for bringing Afghan stakeholders on board
By By Mayed Ali & Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has stressed the need for resolving the Palestinian issue to eradicate terrorism, which is based on an ideology that exploits grievances.
Addressing a joint press conference with President Pervez Musharraf at the Governor's House on Sunday, Blair minced no words in admitting the fight against Islamic extremism was hard, yet the "war has to be won at all costs".
Blair indicated that the West's approach to the war on terror has changed: "We begin to win when we start to fight properly and I think we are now fighting properly but we've got to do more." He warned of dire consequences if the terror war was lost.
Blair believed the West and its allies in the war on terror needed to focus on the problems facing the Muslim world and other downtrodden countries with regard to political, social and economic injustices. He maintained the situation in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere demanded immediate attention so the people's grievances could be redressed and a global wave of terrorism was checked. "Terrorists across the world have an ideology that exploited grievances, and the West needed to address those grievances to change the situation," he said.
He added the West is in the middle of the struggle against Islamic extremism. He added, the Islamic extremism had taken a generation to strengthen its roots and it would take another generation to uproot this menace.
Blair observed that the Middle East crisis had a massive impact on global Islamic extremism and added: "The consequent terrorism as a phenomenon ... was not a sudden surge of events rather a reaction to growing (sense of) deprivation among the peoples in various countries."
He believed the West should invest in the deprived people of less-developed countries, ensuring political stability, social order, economic growth, provision of education and healthcare facilities and justice for all at all levels.
Blair praised President Musharraf, whom he said: "Has the image and the stuff to steer the Muslims of Pakistan and the world out of the current crisis." He added: "We need to empower the moderates across the Muslim world if we want to fight global Islamic extremism."
Responding to a query about the future of Afghanistan, the British prime minister seconded President Pervez Musharraf's idea of tackling the issue through a multi-pronged strategy, seeking military gains along with political stability, better administrative control of the country and over all reconstruction process for immediate recovery on the ground.
He also agreed with President Musharraf's suggestion for involving all ethnic groups in the peace process through a dialogue and political rapprochement. However, he said Nato troops would stay in the country for some time.
About the Iran nuclear standoff, Blair said Tehran needed to fulfil its obligation towards the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nation Security Council (UNSC). He said the West was for the peaceful end to the stalemate vis-a-vis Iran's nuclear ambitions.
He said he had discussed in detail a host of regional and international issues with President Musharraf, including the future strategy for countering terrorism and resolving all outstanding disputes facing the Muslim world.
Blair also highlighted the need for an improvement in the Indo-Pak relations. He stressed the need for resolving all lingering disputes between the two countries, especially the "core" Kashmir issue.
Earlier, President Musharraf brushed aside the allegation that Pakistan was not doing enough to curb the cross-border infiltration. Pakistan has been doing whatever it could do to cut off the Taliban's supply-line from Pakistan, he said, adding: "I reject the notion that Pakistan is not doing enough. We are against Talibanisation and we are against terrorism. We have lost 600 men in our endeavour. If somebody says that is not enough, we are shying away from reality."
Musharraf said Pakistan might not have been achieving 100 per cent results, but the intent of the government was clear. "We will keep finding new solutions, and we will have to fight the militant Taliban till the bitter end."
The president believed that to wage a better war against terrorism in Afghanistan, strong actions would have to be taken on Afghan soil. The Taliban phenomenon originated, was cultivated and thrived in Afghanistan, and it would have to be dealt with there, once and for all. "The Taliban problem is an Afghan problem. The solution lies in what we do in Afghanistan and not in Pakistan."
Musharraf emphasised the need for broadening the scope of the anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world. He suggested that the Taliban in Afghanistan needed to be brought to a political dialogue apart from making heavy financial investments for the reconstruction of the country through a marshal plan.
Responding to a query, Musharraf denied having said that the war in Afghanistan could not be won. He said he did highlight the importance of expanding the scope of war, that is, going for political solutions, introducing administrative reforms and investing heavily in the reconstruction of the country.
About the possibility of acceptance of the Taliban culture in Afghanistan, Musharraf said it was a backward culture and the people of Afghanistan would not like the Talibanisation of the society.
Musharraf also ruled out the possibility of a third world war emanating from the current terrorism and the war on terror. He said that the terrorism was a war of a different kind, which had no borders. He said more interfaith harmony was needed to combat the idea of clash of civilisations.
Those, who were present on the occasion, included Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UK Maleeha Lodhi, DG ISPR Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan and senior federal and provincial officers.
During his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his delegation, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan has proposed that "invisible stakeholders in Afghanistan" should be brought on board a dialogue process to restore normalcy in that war-torn country.
"Cut and run is not the way to resolve the issue, and the coalition partners will have to chalk out a strategic plan to bring peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan as a major stakeholder must be engaged in this partnership," Shaukat said at a joint press conference with Blair. "We will support a plan which can help accelerate reform process in Afghanistan and promote investment ... vital to peace and stability in that country."
Responding to a question, Shaukat said he unveiled his plan during his recent visit to New York, "with a view to having a long-term strategy to bring normalcy in Afghanistan". For his part, Blair said Britain fully supports the prime minister's plan to bring normalcy in Afghanistan.
Shaukat also stressed the need for elimination of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and suggested that solid steps must be taken to provide alternative means of income and cultivation to the farmers who grow poppy.
The two prime ministers described their interaction as constructive and positive, which would give a new impetus to Pak-Britain relationship in various fields. They expressed their resolve to expand strategic partnership to overcome extremism and enhance cooperation in economy, security, defence, fight against terrorism, education, health and human recourse development.
Shaukat reminded his Blair of the need for conflict resolution between Pakistan and India with particular reference to Kashmir dispute for sustainable peace in the region.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan has multifaceted relations with the United Kingdom and hoped that Blair's visit will go a long way in strengthening these ties. He said the British grant of £480 million will also help achieve the MDGs.
Responding to a question, Blair appreciated the passage of the women's bill and Madaris reforms, hoping that these will help curb extremism from the society. He said extremist behaviour is a universal challenge and "we need to address it in a strategic way".
During the talks, Shaukat briefed his British counterpart about the latest status of the peace process with India. He said that the resolution of the Kashmir issue was only possible when the leadership of both sides showed courage, boldness and magnanimity.
Shaukat also urged the UK leader to play role in the early resumption of the Doha process. Tony Blair informed the host prime minister that his government was contemplating to engage the Muslim community of his country on different issues particularly on the question of extremism. When the Muslim leaders from different countries including Pakistan would visit the United Kingdom, such interaction with the Muslim community would be arranged, Tony Blair said. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz thanked the British prime minister for doubling the assistance programme for Pakistan. Blair lauded Aziz's speech at the Princeton University, New Jersey, New York.
At the talks, Blair was assisted by Sir Nigel Shinwell, Foreign Policy Adviser, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, David Hill, Prime Minister's Spokesman, Alison Cochrane, Assistant Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Yusaf Samiullah, head of DFID Pakistan, while the host team included Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Interior Minister, Dr Salman Shah, Adviser to the PM on Finance, Tariq Azeem Khan, Minister of State for Information Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Riaz Muhammad Khan, Foreign Secretary, Zamir Akram, Additional Secretary (FA), Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's high Commissioner to the UK.
Earlier, the two prime ministers signed an agreement under which the United Kingdom will provide £480 million for education, gender balance and Madaris reforms in Pakistan.
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