OXFORD, Sept 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday said Pakistan was fighting terrorism and extremism to the best of its ability but it needed the world’s assistance to combat the malaise that had afflicted the country after the defeat of Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

Speaking at the Oxford Union Debating Society of the Oxford University, he said that Mujahideen, who were brought, trained and financed by the West to fight Soviet troops, coalesced to form Al Qaeda after the withdrawal of the invading troops.

The Taliban from seminaries were also recruited, financed and armed by the United States and the West, and supported by Pakistan against the Soviet forces.

However, the president stressed, after the Soviet defeat Pakistan was left high and dry by the world to fend off 30,000 Mujahideen and to deal with over four million Afghan refugees. Therefore, he said, terrorism was not a Pakistani phenomenon but an import to the country.

“The whole world is to be blamed, it (terrorism) is an import to the country,” he told the elite students community from 39 colleges affiliated to the varsity.

“The West or anyone else, who are criticising us, needs to understand that we need assistance and understanding to address the issue,” he maintained.

Pakistan, he said, was perhaps the only country which had fully understood the environment that had undergone a change with focus shifting from Al Qaeda to Taliban and introduction of new phenomenon of Talibanisation.

He said the government was pursuing a holistic strategy to fight terrorism and extremism, adding that without addressing extremism the fight against terrorism would never succeed.

The president said the government had introduced sustainable democracy in the country and for the first time in its history assemblies would complete their mandated five-year tenure.

He also dilated on steps to empower women, common man and the minorities.

TORY PARTY LEADER: Meanwhile, British opposition Conservative Party leader David Cameron called on President Musharraf and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.