ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday presided over a Corps Commanders’ conference which discussed the ongoing peace process with India. Informed sources quoted the president as saying that Pakistan was committed to the peace process to improve relations between the two countries.

“A number of important issues were discussed by participants of the conference, including the peace process with India,” a source said adding that the corps commanders supported President Musharraf for achieving stability in the region by maintaining cordial relations with all neighbours, including India.

According to ISPR, the president “dwelt at length on the international and regional environment and their relevance to the security of Pakistan”.

President Musharraf reiterated that the country’s defence was “the foremost responsibility of the armed forces which are fully prepared, equipped and motivated to defend the frontiers of the motherland and will not let any one look towards Pakistan with malicious intentions”.

Referring to the domestic situation, the president dilated upon developments in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Balochistan and reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts for the earthquake survivors.

About Fata, the president expressed optimism about the ongoing political process under NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai. He reiterated that foreign terrorists “shall not be allowed to use this territory for any terrorist activity or training for these activities and spread of extremism shall not be tolerated”. The president expressed satisfaction over the improvement of the situation in the North Waziristan Agency.

Additionally, the president emphasised that focus “shall be on development and reconstruction”.

On the Balochistan issue, the president praised the efforts of the security agencies and emphasised that development projects should be accelerated in Kohlu and Dera Bugti areas.

Highlighting various aspects of reconstruction and rehabilitation process in the earthquake-hit areas survivors, Gen Musharraf said that first instalment of Rs75,000 had been disbursed to about 85 per cent quake-hit people, adding that Rs48 billion had so far been distributed. He said that town planning of Balakot and Muzaffarabad was under way, adding that 95 per cent of the one million tents had been removed by the quake survivors as they had moved under temporary shelters, which was our target before the onset of winter in 2006.

In the second session, participants of the conference deliberated upon operational readiness and other matters of professional interest. The participants also reviewed the flood situation in the country and were briefed on the army’s assistance to the civil administration in rescue and relief work and rehabilitation of infrastructure.