July 12, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 26, 1428

LONDON, July 11: Pakistan is playing a vital role in the global anti-terrorism campaign, says State Minister for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar. “Our assistance has been critical in preventing several acts of terrorism in various parts of the world,” he said on Wednesday while addressing the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ dialogue here. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Dr Maleeha Lodhi also attended the session.

Mr Bakhtiar said Pakistani people were against religious extremism and supported the government’s stand on the Lal Masjid hostage crisis in Islamabad.

Pakistan, he said, believed terrorism could be eliminated by addressing its root causes like conflicts in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said it was wrong to link terrorism with Islam or any other faith as terrorism knew no borders or religions. “All Muslims … should not be demonised because of the actions of a few misguided people.”

Referring to the composite peace talks with India, he said the time had come to move from dispute management to conflict resolution. For a lasting solution, he said, Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people.

Islamabad accorded high priority to promote peace and stability in the region, he said, adding that the situation in Afghanistan had been impacting entire region, especially Pakistan.

He said Pakistan believed Iran had the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under appropriate international safeguards. “We do not support nuclear weapons proliferation by Iran. The issue must be resolved by dialogue as any resort to force will further destabilise an already difficult regional situation.”

He also highlighted Pakistan’s partnership with China, the US and the UK.—PPI