ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has denied presence of US soldiers or secret jails in Pakistan, saying that no accord has been made to establish such jails in the country in collaboration with the US.

“There is no presence of US soldiers or secret jails on our soil. No agreement has been signed to set up secret jails in the country in collaboration with the US,” he said in an interview with Saudi newspaper Al-Watan here on Friday.

On war against terrorism, he said: “We have won this war by the grace of Almighty Allah. Al-Qaeda has been forced to flee from the country and it is no more an organized group. Its network has been dismantled.”

He said that Pakistan should not be considered a soft country. “Our armed forces are very strong and fully vigilant. We can face every situation. There is presence of only one army, Pakistan Army, here. There is no room for the presence of any other ‘Sipah’ nor any ‘Sipah’ will be allowed to come into being.”

Referring to the Waziristan situation, he said: “I don’t have a shadow of doubt on the patriotism of the tribesmen. They are loyal. However, presence of foreign militants (in the tribal area) is posing threats. They could have posed serious threat to the national integrity if we had not taken timely steps against them.”

President Musharraf categorically denied that the operation in the tribal area was being conducted at the behest of the US.

Commenting on Pakistan-India dialogue with reference to Kashmir peace process, he said that the issue needed to be resolved with open mind and good intention. “We want Kashmir problem to be solved in line with the aspirations of people of Kashmir so that lasting peace is ensured in the region,” he said.

About sending of Pakistani troops to Iraq, he said that Pakistani troops would not be sent to Iraq in the prevailing situation. “Any decision on this count in future will be made after taking Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries into confidence,” he added.

About relations with Israel, he said: “We are keen to see an independent state of Palestine. No diplomatic relations will be established with Israel unless it pulls out from occupied territories of Palestine, including Golan strip.

President Musharraf urged Israel to abandon violence against people of Palestine and solve the Palestine problem.—Online