Pakistan won’t bow before extremists, says Zardari

Pakistan will not bow before the high-handedness of extremists and terrorists, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday.

“Pakistan is committed to fight militancy in the region and the government will not succumb to any pressure by militants,” Zardari told British special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles who called on him.

Zardari also said the process of dialogue would only be initiated with those who lay down weapons, shun violence and do not challenge the writ of the government. He said military action was only one aspect of a larger solution.

The president said, “We need a Marshall plan to help overcome our socio-economic problems [which are] a result of the damages inflicted on the country by the fight against militancy and extremism.”

Sir Cowper-Coles said the UK was keen to help Pakistan in its fight against militancy, and his appointment as a special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan was in line with this.

The president expressed his concern with UK High Commissioner Robert Brinkley, who was present in the meeting, over the 10 Pakistani students’ arrest in Britain on charges of terrorism.

Zardari said the fact that they had now been set free shows that there was no credible evidence against them. He expressed the hope that the students would be allowed to complete their studies in the UK. Pakistan’s High Commission in London would defend them, the president added.

CJCSC meets: Also on Friday, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Gen Tariq Majeed called on President Asif Zardari and discussed various security issues.

A statement by the Presidency said the CJCSC apprised Zardari about his recent meeting with US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen. He also briefed the president about professional matters and the operational preparedness of the armed forces.

Sources said the two also discussed the latest incursions by Taliban in the areas adjoining the Swat valley and agreed the government and armed forces would not allow anyone to challenge the writ of the government.

Secretary General to the President Salman Farouqui, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Senator Rehman Malik and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir were also present during the meeting.