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'Threat to Pakistan from within,
not outside'

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said India and Pakistan can not progress without finding an amicable solution to the Kashmir issue and cautioned his countrymen that the threat to Pakistan's unity and integrity emanated from extremist elements from within.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion of Pakistan's 54th Independence Day at a special function in Islamabad, Musharraf said he would come out with an announcement on a detailed election schedule later in the day when he addresses the recently elected local councils.

He, however, said would hold elections before the October 2002 deadline set by Pakistan's supreme court for his military regime to handover power to an elected government.

Musharraf said despite freezing the defence budget due to economic compulsions, the Pakistan armed forces backed by the nuclear potential provided complete security from external threat.

"Unfortunately, however, our threat emanates from within. Our economic malaise coupled with intolerance and extremist attitude in certain quarters are the termites eating us from within."

"All that is required is will and self-confidence to face these challenges. We must realise and understand time has come to rededicate ourselves to achieve primary objectives and to attain our rightful place in the world," he said.

Musharraf said concerted efforts were necessary to develop a peaceful harmonious and orderly society by exhibiting tolerance, understanding of each other's views while resolving religious and political differences.

"Remember the character of the nation is the sum total of the character and performance of every individual of the nation," he said and appealed to people to forge unity. "Let us not fall a prey to the powers who want to see us fragmented into sects and ethnic groups," he appealed.

At the independence day function, which was held in the premises of the presidential palace amidst strict security and attended by cabinet ministers, top government officials, diplomatic core and the media, Musharraf said, he was grateful to the people of Pakistan for endorsing the 'recent ventures in foreign policy'.

Musharraf said, "I categorically stated on my return from Agra that we favour further talks on the Kashmir dispute and other issues of differences with India."

"Without sacrificing our sovereignty and national honour and national dignity, we are willing to go to any length in order to maintain friendly relations with all our neighbours."

"This is particularly true with regard to India because we are convinced that without an amicable solution to the thorny and long-standing Kashmir dispute, the two countries cannot progress and develop to the desired extent," he said.

"We have brought the Kashmir dispute out of the closet and made it the focus of world attention," he said.

In his speech, Musharraf also claimed that the Pakistani economy was on the road to recovery. "Pakistanis could now look forward to better times without the sword of economic catastrophe hanging on their heads," he said, adding restructuring of economic programme had been praised by the national and international community.

Musharrafs' comments on J&K followed his assertion on Monday night that Indian leaders should exercise restraint in their statements on Agra as well as post Agra summit developments.

"I am exercising restraint myself and trying to avoid giving provocative statements with the sole purpose of settling disputes with India through peaceful means," he told reporters at Rawalpindi after inaugurating a new train to Karachi.

He said Pakistan wanted a peaceful resolution of all issues with India, including Jammu and Kashmir. "I have adopted a positive attitude and now the Indian leadership should respond in the same fashion so that our differences on various issues could be narrowed down."

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