KARACHI, May 26: President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday asked all wings of the armed forces to be watchful of threats to national security from extremism and vested interests and said that defence forces were being upgraded to frustrate such designs.

Addressing officers of the three services at the Corps Auditorium here, Gen Musharraf said that an upgradation was being done under the Armed Forces Development Plan which was part of the national defence policy to enhance capabilities of the armed forces to thwart any designs against the country.

Declaring religious extremism the biggest internal threat to the country, Gen Musharraf said that misunderstanding and hatred were being created among the people in the name of Islam.

“We must discourage this (practice) to safeguard our future,” the president said and deplored that many of the mosques and madressahs were being misused for this purpose. He called upon the people to be aware of conspiracies by vested interests.

The president discussed both international and regional environment and Pakistan’s role in that context.

He noted that the regional situation demanded a highest-level vigilance and military preparedness and said the country was fully aware of these imperatives.

Gen Musharraf reiterated Pakistan’s non-aggressive designs against any country and the desire to seek peace with all. “Our desire of peace should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness, it is a strategy of defensive deterrence,” he opined.

He declared that Pakistan sought a peaceful resolution to all disputes, including Kashmir, with its neighbours. “We are determined to defend the territorial integrity and solidarity of our country and our desire is reflected in capabilities of our armed forces,” he added.

Referring to the economic turnaround in the country, he said that due to consistent policy of the government, all socio-economic indicators had improved.

He asked the people to promote tolerance so that “we can pursue our policies and give to the country the place it deserves in the comity of nations”.

Corps Commander Lt-Gen Ahsan Azhar Hayat, COMKAR, AOC Southern Air Command, General Officers Commanding and other senior officers were present on the occasion.