ISLAMABAD, May 26: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has called for unity of moderate people to defeat extremist and obscurantist elements in the country. Addressing participants of War Course and National Defence Course at the recently upgraded National Defence University on Saturday, he said: “We in Pakistan must squarely address the creeping elements of obscurantism and extremism.”

He said that the majority of Pakistanis, who were moderate and tolerant people, must assert their moral authority and uphold the true values of Islam and, in accordance with the dictates of their faith to achieve conciliation through dialogue, discussion and persuasion, and not through violence and force.

“In the long run, extremism needs to be countered through education, creation of employment and income opportunities and providing hope to the deprived. These are the guiding principles of the government’s approach to address this issue.” The prime minister said the government had made sustained efforts to meet the external challenges confronting Pakistan.

“Far from being a country that was accused of not being friendly to some countries, Pakistan has now been playing a key role in the international campaign against terrorism. Terrorism is no solution to any problem.”

He said at the same time, Pakistan believed that there was need to address the root causes of terrorism, in order to find a permanent solution to the menace.

He said that there was a need for a holistic approach to counter terrorism, which must combine the use of force with efforts to overcome deprivation, poverty, frustration and alienation that feed extremism and terrorism.

He said that it was equally important to ensure that the acts of a few misguided people were not used to demonize the Muslim world.

“Terrorism transcends all religions and borders. Islam is a faith which preaches peace, tolerance and compassion. Dubious thesis such as those propagating a clash of civilizations must be rejected.”

“We must promote harmony and dialogue between the Muslim world and non-Muslim world,” he said.