Pakistan, Bosnia to jointly fight terrorism

Pakistan, Bosnia to jointly fight terrorism

"The Islamic people look upon the war in Bosnia as an attack on Muslims and Islam. It was one of the tragic events caused by the same problem - the unsolved issue of Palestine," Musharraf told Bosnian Dnevni avaz on Friday.

“Muslims are desperate especially the Middle East and the Gulf. The whole Islamic world is in turmoil and the main reason for it is Palestine," he said. He cited the Arab-Israeli conflict, al-Qaida's 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, the war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon as examples.

"We wept over the scenes of war in Bosnia The underlying problems have not been resolved but only pulled wide open. That is why we need to put our efforts into tackling the root of the problem”, Musharraf explained.

The Pakistani president stressed that his country “would always and fully support and help Bosnia. “We have strong fraternal feelings towards your country," he added, saying that he had served in Bosnia during the war as Pakistan's general for military operations.

Musharraf wrote details of his fighting in 1993 in his autobiography, saying at one point “Pakistani soldiers were not welcomed by UN troops at that time, because of the preferences of some countries."

“The world should not forget the problems in BH. That is why I call upon European Union especially to stay engaged in maintaining the peace and seeing justice done”, Musharraf said.

Commenting on relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Musharraf said the situation was not good since the authorities in Kabul claim that Pakistan holds Taliban headquarters.

“The real truth is that Talibans are in Afghanistan and that is the place to fight them. I do not know where Bin Laden is, therefore I cannot say if he is or is not in Pakistan," he stressed.

Musharraf said he is also strongly opposed to possible US military intervention in Iran. "It would be a great mistake for president George Bush to order such an attack," Musharraf pointed out, saying such an event destabilise the globe.

Musharaff is on his fourth day of a week-long European tour taking in Spain, Bosnia, Poland and Turkey.

“Pakistan and its people have emotional attachment with Bosnia and will always remain supportive to the Bosnian people in whatever form for their stability, harmony and prosperity,” Musharraf said at a joint session of the Bosnian parliament in Sarajevo late Friday.

He said Pakistan was satisfied to be part of the International community’s efforts to bring peace to Bosnia by contributing its troops to the UN.

He spoke in detail about terrorism, extremism, situation in Afghanistan and Palestine and said the cause of terrorism “lies in political disputes, poverty and illiteracy.” 

Musharraf said his strategy of “enlightened moderation” called on the Muslim countries to reject terrorism as the West, on the other hand, must help resolve the political disputes and contribute to social and economic development in the Muslim countries.