20000208

No question

of support

to terrorists,

says CE

WIRASAT HUSSNAIN

KARACHI: Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf has said that there is no question of any support or any kind of backup to a terrorist.

He was talking to newsmen after the inauguration of the 37th Medical Symposium of the Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre held here on Monday.

When asked what message Pakistan wanted to give to the world by allowing the former Chechen president Zelimhkhan Yanderbiyev to stay in Islamabad and Maulana Masood Azhar to address the press, announcing a party and issuing statements affecting foreign relations, Gen. Pervez said, "there is a confusion in this as to who is a terrorist and who is a freedom fighter and this needs to be understood clearly and unambiguously."

He said there should be clear distinction between terrorists and Mujahideen and they were different sets of people.

Gen. Musharraf said he had always condemned terrorism and would not allow it to take a root in Pakistan.

To a question he said he had come to know that Maulana Azhar's procession had weapon-carrying followers. "This is something not tolerable and carrying of arms is not permissible."

He said issuing irresponsible statements and moving around with weapons would neither solve Kashmir dispute nor would it be in the interest of Pakistan.

"I am against issuance of any such statements and we are making arrangements to see that no one issues such statements," he added.

To another question Gen Musharraf said he that he would be visiting Afghanistan soon. "I will meet Mullah Rabbani and Mullah Umer to discuss a joint strategy to fight against all kinds of terrorism."

He said he would not like to comment on Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement as it would lead to no solution. "Rather it will further add up to confusion and spoil relations. I do not want to increase tension by countering him," he said.

He said a visit by President Bill Clinton to Pakistan would have contributed towards better relations between Pakistan, India and the U. S. By visiting Pakistan he could contribute towards the solution to the Kashmir dispute, he added. "if he (Clinton) does not visit Pakistan it would increase tension between India and Pakistan."

He deplored the acts of terrorism, including repeated bomb blasts in the country, and said the law enforcing agencies must be vigilant and keep an eye over these incidents as mostly the agents of Indian RAW had been involved in such acts of terrorism. He said all acts of terrorism need to be checked.