September 18, 2002	Wednesday	Rajab 10, 1423

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KARACHI, Sept 17: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that Pakistan’s armed forces were fully equipped to face the enemy.

“Everything depends on threat perception, and to see as to what your enemy is in possession of and what is your strategy and whether you have the equipment according to that strategy,” the president said during a visit to IDEAS-2002 defence exhibition.

The five-day exhibition was inaugurated by the president at the Expo Centre on Monday.

In reply to a question, Gen Musharraf said that there was no indication of withdrawal of forces from the borders.

“There could be some movement in the wake of elections in the held Kashmir and what happens thereafter, we will see,” the president said, adding: “We have no problem...we are not perturbed at all”.

He said neither any significant expenses were involved in keeping forces at the borders, nor the country’s economy was over-burdened. “We have made all arrangements and there is nothing of the sort to worry about,” the president said. The morale of our troops is very high and rather they are happy over there, he elaborated. “Hence, if they (India) want escalation, we have no problem, we are also ready,” the president declared.

Answering a question, Gen Musharraf said the government was trying for the export of the country’s defence products.

LAW & ORDER: Referring to the breakthrough achieved in smashing the terrorists network, the president said it would bring a lot of improvement in law and order all over the country.

He observed that there were local extremists who would unnecessarily kill people in churches and carry out bomb blasts. However, he pointed out, they all were either killed or caught.

The president pointed out that there were foreign elements who had entered the country and said they should go and leave our motherland and carry out their nefarious activities outside Pakistan. “Why are they doing these ghastly and abhorrent acts in Pakistan?” he asked.

Gen Musharraf said the government had gained significant success in arresting those extremists in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad.

About sectarian violence which involved killing of doctors, the president said no such thing had occurred for the last eight months.

“I am quite confident that a definitive improvement is there; the police, Rangers and intelligence agencies have done a good job, and these will result in attracting more investments in the future,” he added.

On the arrest of top Al Qaeda fugitive Ramzi bin Al Shibh, the president said that the accused had been interrogated and information was being gathered.

Gen Musharraf said the security environment had improved; all the hotels of Karachi were full to capacity, it was a matter of great rejoice and happiness.

FOREIGN DELEGATES: The president said the delegates from abroad were surprised to see Pakistan’s capability and development in the defence sector.

He said he had met the delegations and held talks about joint collaboration. Discussions were also held with some brotherly and friendly countries about joint collaboration in defence production.

An odd dozen delegations from Turkey, China, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Malaysia, Iran and Saudi Arabia met the president.

Gen Musharraf said there was vast potential for export of our defence products. “We are already selling small equipment like baktar shikan, Anza, etc., but bigger items such as Al Khalid tanks or Mushak and other aircraft, besides Al Zarar tank have bright future for export,” he remarked.

The president said that Saudi Arabia was buying defence items like the Mushak and added that five Mushak had already been purchased by Oman.

Asked if there were plans for selling of missiles, the president said Pakistan had already sold missiles, but not the strategic ones.

“Whatever he (Ramzi) has committed, he has committed abroad and thus we are nothing to do with him,” Gen Musharraf told reporters. All foreigners would be extradited, he said.

Later, inaugurating a private Islamic Bank in Karachi, Gen Musharraf said Al Qaeda terrorists would not be allowed to find refuge in Pakistan.—Agencies