PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Oct 13: Muslim countries must adopt a strategy of “enlightened moderation” amidst the new turbulence in global politics, President Gen Pervez Musharraf said in remarks published on Monday.

Referring to the turmoil in the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan, Gen Musharraf argued against a confrontational approach.

In an interview published by Malaysia’s leading English daily News Straits Times on Monday, he said in the face of “so much violence and hatred in the world” there were two courses of action.

“One is the confrontational approach where we respond in an equally aggressive and militant mode against whatever we are seeing. Is that a better way to respond or should we reconcile and evolve a strategy which is win-win for both?

“Frankly, according to my theory of ‘enlightened moderation’, a confrontational approach should not be taken, but a pacific or conciliatory approach.”

The world believed that Islam encouraged extremism and was in conflict with democracy, secularism and moralism, he said. “We should have enlightened Islam, but what we are showing to the world is the opposite. We are showing militancy, extremism and intolerance. So what the world is seeing on television is the opposite of what we are saying.”

The president emphasized that every Muslim country must contribute a certain percentage of its GDP to the Organization of Islamic Conference to help improve its functioning.

“We need to change the structure of the OIC so that it is dynamic and result-oriented,” he said.

In reply to a question, the president urged the international community to address the root-causes of extremism.

On peace overtures between Pakistan and India, he said bilateral relations had improved and called for addressing major causes of dispute between them.

“We don’t see a possibility of piecemeal improvement in relations when major causes of the dispute are not being addressed. It is unrealistic. We have tried it so many times before,” he said with an obvious reference to the Kashmir dispute.

About resumption of talks, Gen Musharraf regretted that it was being delayed by India. “We are trying our best to hasten it and make the next move”.

“I have proposed a ceasefire at the LoC...They must stop the atrocities and military operations, for the dialogue process to start,” he said and added, “but the response to this was quite shocking”.

Pakistan, he said, was trying to move forward but said “there is also a limit to our patience. One thinks ultimately that if that is what India wants, so be it. We are trying our best to move forward.”—Agencies