A 'moderate Pakistan" to fight the root causes of terrorism, Musharraf says
The US and the EU should help the Muslim world fight poverty and illiteracy.
Rome (AsiaNews) - "As a religion Islam is rooted in our society, but ours is a moderate form of Islam," said Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, "Terrorism on the other hand is a problem with social causes whose roots are poverty and illiteracy." The President, who is in Italy till tomorrow, is trying to counter the image of Pakistan as a country of extremists. To do so, he underlined the fact that fundamentalism and extremism are not one and the same. Fundamentalists are "people historically rooted in their religion in ways contrary to Islam's teaching that says we must adapt to the times. More dangerous are however the [extremists] who want to impose an unchanging and uniform vision of religion on society". According to the President "extremists find fertile ground among the 'poor and the illiterate'. For this reason the education system must be reformed. Madrasas, which take on the poorest of the poor, are too often seen as terrorists' nests and our task is to make sure that they truly educate."
In arguing that poverty and illiteracy are the "root causes" of terrorism, Musharraf wants to get the "US and the European Union" to help the Islamic world. Terrorism, the President General believes, will be defeated by a pincer strategy that involves "solving political conflicts and healing social wounds".
Musharraf also spoke of domestic security to reassure Italian investors. "Pakistan is fighting terrorism both within and without its borders in order to create a climate of peace and harmony". He reminded his audience of his government's total commitment to the war on terrorism, one that is not limited to military operations but includes economic aid to Afghanistan. "We have contributed US$ 5 million to the elections in Afghanistan and have allocated 100 million for reconstruction projects," he said pointedly.
But the military component of the fight is unrelenting. With the death of alleged al-Qaeda leader Amjad Hussain Farooqi in a gun battle, "we eliminated one of the main terrorist threats," Musharraf said. According to the Pakistani government Farooqi was involved in the abduction and decapitation of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002. He was also held responsible for attacks against President Musharraf himself in Rawalpindi in December 2003 and against churches in Islamabad and Bahawalpur where 21 people were killed in March 2002.
Pakistani authorities have thus far arrested more than 600 suspected members of terrorist organisation.
Talking to Italian reporters, President Musharraf defended his country against accusations that it harboured al-Qaeda terrorists. "In the past we had the intent to fight terrorism, but lacked the means," he said. "Now we have concrete chances of neutralising the fundamentalists." The Pakistani President urged Western governments to be more enlightened in the fight against terrorism. "I call on the US and the European Union to help us fight the root causes of terrorism which are poverty and illiteracy," he said.
Tomorrow, the President will be received in audience by Pope John Paul II. (MA)
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06/12/2004
