TOKYO, March 15: President Gen Pervez Musharraf warned on Friday against compartmentalizing civilizations and called on the world community to address political disputes on the basis of rights of the people.

“We should not talk of clash of civilizations. We should not compartmentalize civilizsation, this is a very dangerous concept,” he told Japanese reporters at the end of his four-day state visit to Japan.

The president, who met editors of five major Japanese newspapers and two news agencies, ahead of his scheduled departure in the noon, emphasised that the so-called civilizations should not be seen as adversaries.

“They are complementary to each other and learn from each other,” he observed.

“Why the millions of students travel from East to West to acquire knowledge and skills,” he posed a question.

President Musharraf emphasised that there are political disputes and the world community must address them “not in terms of civilizations but in terms of rights of the people.”

He said the United States, as a sole superpower must play an active role in the just resolutions of disputes regarding the Muslim World.

Responding to a question, the president categorically stated that Pakistan would not be the first to set off another nuclear test.

“We will exercise full restraint in this regard,” said the president, adding: “We have offered a ‘No-War Pact’ to India. We believe in demilitarization of South Asia.”

Replying to a question, the president said Pakistan was not violating the missile regime, and pointed out that “the country has its own indigenous missile programme.”

“We have our own nuclear and missile technology which is completely indigenous,” he added.—APP