Musharraf counts on Saudi support

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 7. The Pakistan military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has said Islamabad ``greatly values Saudi Arabia's consistent support to its endeavour to promote peace and stability in South Asia and its support to the Kashmiri struggle for their right to self-determination.''

In a statement issued on his return from an eight-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Gen. Musharraf made a particular reference to the Kashmir issue. ``Pakistan shall continue to support Saudi leadership's policies to promote regional security and stability''.

His sudden visit and, more important, the number of days he spent in the Kingdom were the subject of speculation in the Pakistan media. The tone and tenor of his ``arrival statement'' seems to suggest that Gen. Musharraf is immensely pleased with the outcome of his interaction with the royal family.

His visit came weeks after the Indian Foreign Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, made the much-publicised visit to the Kingdom after a gap of 17 years.

It is not just the India factor that lent significance to the visit of Gen. Musharraf. It was linked as much to the domestic scene. After all, it was at the request of the leadership of the Kingdom that the military government decided to release the former Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, from jail and send him to Saudi Arabia on exile.

In his address to the nation in defence of the decision, Gen. Musharraf hinted that Saudi Arabia had promised to help Pakistan economically. Perhaps the issue came up for discussion.

Extremist group warned

In another development, Gen. Musharraf has warned of stern action against extremist religious groups involved in sectarian violence.

Talking to the Associated Press of Pakistan, official news agency of the country, he said those who were behind the recent sectarian killings in North West Frontier Province and Punjab would not be spared.

Last week's violence was triggered by the execution of a member of a religious extremist group for his involvement in the murder of an Iranian diplomat.

The Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. (retd) Moinuddin Haider, had been engaged in a war of words with the religious and militant outfits on collection of funds in the name of jehad (holy war) and display of weapons in public. Enraged at the statement of the Minister, the extremist religious outfits demanded his resignation.

Today's statement by Gen. Musharraf is a clear signal to his Minister. ``I want to say this very categorically that anyone who has indulged in such (sectarian) killings and whoever is behind these killings, would be taken to task sternly.''

On Monday, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation uprooted camps set up by various religious and Jehadi outfits for collection of hides and of butchered animals on the occasion of Bakrid.

The action against the hide collecting camps of the Jamat-e- Islami, the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Tehreek Minhajul Quran and other outfits led to tension in the city.

According to another report in the Jamaat-e-Islami mouthpiece, Jasarat, similar action was taken against jehadi outfits in Multan in the light of directives, recently issued by the Interior Minister.

Quoting sources the paper said the Interior Ministry directed all Deputy Commissioners to supervise the operation against jehadi outfits and ensure that they did not set up their camps in their districts.

A report in another Urdu daily, Jang, said that on the directives of Rawalpindi Corps Commander, Lt. Gen. Jamshed Gulzar Kiyani police uprooted hide collecting camps in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The police also raided the camps of jehadi outfits in Islamabad removing all banners and posters. Area magistrates continued visiting these areas till late into evening to keep vigil.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : 'Make report on Hindujas passport affair public'
Next     : End violence and start talks, U.S. tells LTTE