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Pakistan poses no threat to Israel’s security, says Musharraf
ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 : President General Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that Pakistan poses no no threat to Israel’s security nor Israel poses threat to Pakistan’s national security.
Addressing the American Jewish Congress in New York, the President said that Pakistan has no direct conflict or dispute with Israel.
However, he said the people of Pakistan have a deep sympathy for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspirations for the establishment of an independent state.
He said that Pakistan decided an official contact with Israel in response to the bold step taken by Israeli Prime Minister Aerial Sharon to withdraw from the Gaza.
“As the peace process progresses towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, we will take further steps towards normalization and cooperation, looking to full diplomatic relations”, said President Musharraf.
He said that any final settlement between Israelis and Palestinians should respect the international character of Jerusalem as well as international law and the resolutions of the UN Security Council.
He said the Israeli-Palestinian problem lies at the heart of terrorism in the Middle East and beyond adding that in view of its global impact, it is incumbent on the international community-specially the West and the US-to ensure a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
President Musharraf said that Israel’s security would remain incomplete until the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state is assured. “Israel must come to terms with geopolitical realities and allow justice to prevail for Palestinians”, he added.
He hoped that Israel would soon withdraw from the West Bank saying that this would set the stage for the establishment of the Palestinian state.
“I am convinced that peace in Palestine, that does justice to both the Israelis and the Palestinians will bring to a close the sad chapter in the history of the Middle East. What better signal for peace could there be than the opening of Embassies in Israel by Islamic countries like Pakistan?”, he added.
The President said he always believed that the courage required to compromise and reconcile is far greater than that required to confront.
“I appeal to Israel to show that courage. I appeal to the American Jewish Congress, and the entire Jewish community, to use their considerable influence to put an end to the Palestinian dispute once for all and to usher in a period of peace and tranquillity in the Middle East and perhaps the whole world”, he added.
President General Pervez Musharraf said that the most pervasive threat the world confronts is international terrorism and urged that terrorism must be rejected and cannot be condoned for any reason or cause.
He said that the people of Pakistan have suffered from terrorism and continue to suffer because of extremism in the region adding that Pakistan is making contribution to the fight against terrorism.
He maintained that Pakistan’s efforts have won international appreciation. “Pakistan is participating in international action against international terrorism through police and military action, intelligence sharing and measures to curb terrorist financing”, he added.
He urged the world to look for the deeper causes of terrorism and for the motivations that drive individuals to extreme irrational behaviour to commit acts of terrorism.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that any attempt to shy away or ignore the root causes of terrorism is shutting ones eyes to reality and is a sure recipe for failure. Military action or the use of force against the terrorists today is not, in itself, the ultimate solution to the malaise. It merely buys us time to implement profound policies to eliminate the phenomenon”, said Musharraf.
The President said the postulated clash between civilizations, especially between Islam and the West, has no basis in the history. He opined that there are tendencies to associate Islam with terrorism and declared these as a hate campaign against Islam.
“In today’s dynamic world, we need, more than ever before, to foster understanding and harmony among societies. I strongly support the endeavour to promote interfaith and inter-civilizational dialogue and harmony”, he said.
He acknowledged the fact that most of those involved in terrorist acts, as well most of those who suffer the consequences of these acts, are Muslims and urged the world to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism if they want to succeed against these.
“The leaders of today must change the course of events instead of merely reacting to a series of catastrophic events such as 9/11 and 7/7”, he added.
Musharraf said it is essential together with the use of force, to promote the resolution of the political disputes, which are exploited by terrorists to justify their criminal actions. He added that the Palestinian and Kashmir disputes are ripe for resolution and urged to put collective weight behind a push for their final solution.