ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: Pakistan faces no external threat but only a threat from within in the form of religious extremism and the government is resolved to fight the unenlightened exponent of “our great religion,” says President Pervez Musharraf.

He was speaking at the annual dinner of the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association.

“No external threat can harm Pakistan, the enemy lies within,” he stated, maintaining that the element of sectarian and religious extremism can damage Pakistan both internally and externally.

Describing extremism as being “the most serious area, the president underscored the need for the country to address it on an urgent basis.

“We will not allow Pakistan to be misused by any international extremist,” he asserted.

Pakistan, he said, has an intelligence setup, a special operation task force on ground, fully mobile and a quick reaction force to combat extremists.

Referring to Thursday’s action in the tribal region, President Musharraf stated that Pakistan would continue to apply force and act vigorously against extremists.

“There will be no extremist here in Pakistan,” he declared.

Reinforcing his assertion, the president said a majority of Pakistanis were moderate, adding that the “unenlightened minority” would not be allowed to hijack religion. He regretted that acts of a small minority — by way of spreading sectarian and religious hatred — brought bad name to religion as well as the country.

“Pakistan is an Islamic country, it will remain an Islamic country and no law can be enacted here which is against the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah,” he emphasized.

Gen Musharraf called for concerted efforts to make Pakistan an economically vibrant and progressive Islamic country in accordance with the vision of its founding fathers.—APP