WASHINGTON, Nov 10: President Pervez Musharraf appears to have softened his stance on whether the United States should suspend its bombing campaign in Afghanistan through Ramazan, which starts next week.

“I have always been saying that preferably the operation has to be short and it would have been much desirable that the operation terminated before Ramazan,” Musharraf said in an interview on ABC’s “Nightline” news programme on Friday.

“But then I’ve been saying that strategic objectives have to be achieved. One understands that. But then I’m very conscious that sensitivities of the month of Ramazan must be considered,” Musharraf said, according to a transcript provided by the ABC News.

Musharraf, facing rising opposition at home because of his pro-American stance, has warned that bombing during Ramazan would create political fallout throughout the Islamic world.

Asked what he thought might happen if the bombing continued through Ramazan, Musharraf said: “I can’t be very positive about it, but I said that it will have negative effects in the Muslim world.”

Gen Musharraf said there is no truth in presumption that there is any threat to his regime.

“If I was concerned, I wouldn’t be out. It’s too serious an issue. I wouldn’t have come out at all. I wasn’t concerned. I know everything is all right. The military is behind me, and political situation is absolutely all right,” Gen Musharraf said.

In reply to a question as to what extent he remained nervous when left country and as to what extent he was concerned from the threats of opponents to his rule, he said these people couldn’t pose any threat to his rule.

Gen Musharraf termed the presumption wrong that country’s nuclear arms may go into the hands of fundamentalist elements. He termed this presumption totally wrong that these weapons might go in the hands of fundamentalists.

About precaution of country’s nuclear installations he said, “No, I didn’t take any particular precautions. The precautions are in place. We have very strong custodial controls, and a command and control system that is very effective. I didn’t issue any special orders as such.

Asked about Mr Bush assertions that war against terrorism would go infinite, he said, “The war against terrorism is certainly not over. It’ll continue for years to come, and we are a part of it.”

He elaborated that even in this case Pakistan will remain a part of the war against terrorism anywhere in the world, because we are a victim of terrorism within Pakistan, and I’m trying to resolve that issue also.

He said that economic would remain the focus of his deliberations with Mr Bush. We have got a lot of promises, but the substance has yet to come, he added.

He said that he wants to convey to Americans that he has come to United States with a resolve and with a conviction to fight terrorism with them all around the world. “And I would also like to convey to them my condemnation, my strong condemnation, on the act of terrorism on the 11th of September, for which I’m going to visit to ground zero and express it openly. So Pakistan will be together with the United States and the coalition to fight terrorism around the world”.—Reuters/NNI