ATTOCK, Oct 30: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday although he was in favour of talks to resolve all issues, he believed that terrorists and extremists did not believe in negotiations and appealed to the nation to unite against these elements who were preaching hatred and fanning sectarianism.

The president was speaking at a ceremony after inaugurating 117-km Burhan-Peshawar section of the Motorway.

President Musharraf said that terrorists and extremists were undermining government’s efforts to improve economy and, after creating law and order problems in tribal areas, they were extending their activities to other areas of the country.

He said the political process initiated in 1999 was nearing completion, but some vested interests were creating hurdles. But, he said, all these hurdles would be removed by the government to ensure a stable political system and free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

He said the government had been struggling since 1999 to stabilise the political system and improve the economy and it would not allow anyone to destroy the hard work of the past eight years.

He, however, conceded that despite all positive achievements, the situation relating to poverty and unemployment was not good and required further government measures.

Referring to the Motorway, he said he was happy to see the people of the two provinces at the ceremony.

The president said that a 950 km road network was being completed to link the country with Central Asian States.

He said that highways would be built from Chitral to Gilgit, Hunza to Sakardu, Gilgit to Sakardu and Peswhawar to Turkham, and after their completion, tourism would get a boost in the Northern Areas.

He said with the completion of the Lowari Tunnel, Chitral would remain linked to other parts of the country in winter when it used to be cut off from the rest of the country because of heavy snowfall.

On the demand of federal ministers Amanullah Khan Jadoon and Ameer Muqam, he directed the NHA to dualize the Hazra Road from Hasanabdal to Babu Sar on a priority basis and connect it with Chalas and the Karakoram Highway

The president said the country enjoyed an ideal geographical location and completion of these projects would boost tourism and promote trade with China, Afghanistan and Central Asian states.