KAKUL, Oct 1: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday that obscurantist and anti-progress forces must be defeated militarily and socially as they posed the gravest threat to Pakistan’s progress and development.

“Our society today stands disturbed due to the narrow-minded and short-sighted attitudes of a few who have taken upon themselves to impose their will on the moderate majority.

“Such anti-progress, obscurantist forces have to be defeated militarily and socially,” the president said while addressing the passing-out parade of 112 PMA Long Course and Integrated Course-31.

President Musharraf observed that the phenomenon of terrorism and extremism was pervasive.

“Pakistan is a victim of both,” he said, adding that the present international and regional environment “has opened a new dimension” of responsibility on the armed forces of Pakistan.

He said that obscurantist elements “pose the gravest threat and obstacle to Pakistan’s progress and development”.

“In confronting these elements you have to guard against their vicious propaganda of making this battle look like one against Islam. The conflict involved is not one of religion. It simply is one of progress, emancipation versus backwardness and dogmatism,” he said.

“We have to create a Pakistan of Iqbal and Quaid, and not one of religious bigotry.”

He told the newly commissioned officers that they must remember that Pakistan was their destiny, as much as they were its destiny. They should be prepared for making sacrifice in its interest.

“Always keep Pakistan’s interest foremost; Pakistan must always come first.”

Pakistan has mounted its military strategy on the premise of deterrence both in the conventional and unconventional spheres, he said.

“The strategy is in place and we will ensure that our preparation against aggression keeps pace with it.”

The president said Pakistan had embarked on a programme of modernization of all its services and its strategic forces and results were for everyone to see, “the latest being the success of our indigenous cruise missile”.

“The armed forces of Pakistan will, Inshallah, always be maintained in a state to be able to discharge their onerous responsibility effectively.” He congratulated the newly commissioned officers and expressed the hope that they would fulfil the organization’s grand traditions of professionalism, sacrifice, dedication to duty and patriotism.

He commended the Pakistan Military Academy and its faculty for maintaining high standards and said it was respected the world over for its standards and its alumni.

“Training at the Pakistan Military Academy has inculcated in you the requisite physical, intellectual and moral attributes which are essential for delivering your responsibilities as leaders of men,” he said.—APP