RAWALPINDI, March 31: US Central Command Commander Admiral William J. Fallon on Saturday expressed appreciation of Pakistan’s efforts and its role in the war against terrorism.
The Centcom chief, who called on President General Pervez Musharraf, particularly mentioned the role of Pakistan’s armed forces that had made numerous sacrifices and contribution towards regional and global peace efforts.
Admiral Fallon discussed with General Musharraf the situation in Afghanistan, the on-going war against terrorism and other issues.
President Musharraf said there was a need to focus on the root causes of militancy, terrorism and extremism that exist in Afghanistan.
The president spoke of the elaborate security arrangements put in place along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to check all sorts of illegal activities, including unauthorised movement and trafficking of narcotics and drugs.
MONKS: President Musharraf said the government was taking all steps to create inter-faith harmony in the country.
He was talking to a delegation of Buddhist monks from Korea, Japan and China, led by Jeon Chong Yoon, which called on him here at the president’s camp office.
The president said there was a lot of scope to further promote “religious tourism” in Pakistan for local and foreign tourists.
Highlighting the discovery of 200 artefacts from Julian-II site near Taxila, the president said it was possible due to cooperation of Pakistan with other countries and added that it was a remarkable archaeological success.
President Musharraf emphasized the need for cooperation and assistance between archaeological departments and institutions of different countries for excavation and preservation of artefacts relating to different religions.
