President Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan's security concerns as well as its core interests in Kashmir and safety of the nuclear programme motivated his government to join the international coalition against terrorism. Security of the country and our core interests of Kashmir and nuclear were kept uppermost while taking the decision after 11th September terrorist attacks in the United States, he told elected chiefs of the local bodies.
He said as a result of its stand against terrorism, Pakistan gained diplomatically and stood at the centrestage and became part of the international community to play its due role.
Musharraf criticised the pro-Taliban extremist religious groups who continued to agitate opposing his new Afghan policy to oppose Taliban and Osama bin Laden. He said the country was facing a very unhealthy situation on account of these extremists forces and asked the local body heads to play decisive role in their respective districts in the maintenance of law and order.
Bureau Report