WASHINGTON, Jan 4: Secretary of State Colin Powell offered on Friday a new dose of warm praise to President Pervez Musharraf, after Pakistani security forces rounded up scores of Muslim activists accused of fomenting tensions with India.

Powell said in an interview with the BBC that Musharraf made “bold statements” of moderation during a crisis with India which erupted after a raid on parliament in New Delhi on Dec 13, and had followed up his rhetoric with deeds.

“Pakistan has done a great deal since this crisis started on the 13th of December — first by arresting the leaders of the two terrorist organizations most closely linked to being the perpetrators of this act,” Powell said.

Leaders of both Lashkar-i-Taiba and Jaish-i-Mohammad were rounded up in last week’s sweep, after India demanded their arrest following the attack, which it said was backed by Pakistani intelligence.

“Pakistan has also arrested a number of other individuals who might be associated with terrorist activity. So they have done quite a bit,” Powell said.

“I think President Musharraf has made a number of bold statements with respect to moderation and going after extremist elements within Pakistani society.”

The United States has mixed warm public praise of Musharraf with intense behind-the-scenes pressure on the president following the Dec 13 attack and the Sept 11 strikes on New York and the Pentagon when it forced him to join its coalition against terrorism.—AFP