LAGOS, Nov 26: Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf has said that extremism is on the rise in parts of Pakistan with Mujahideen groups gaining more public support.

“Extremism is rising in certain pockets of society of Pakistan because of ... religious militancy on both sides of Pakistan – east and west,” the former president said at a public lecture on Friday in Nigeria's economic capital Lagos.

“There is Mujahideen activity in Kashmir and it has risen ... and therefore all the Mujahideen groups in Pakistan have gotten more activated ... all are gaining in public support and public sympathy in Pakistan,” he said, noting that it was becoming more difficult to control extremism.

According to Mr Musharraf, the solution lies with India and Pakistan working “towards peace and in peace, we must resolve the Kashmir dispute because that lies at the core of terrorism and extremism within Pakistan.”

The former military ruler, who spoke on democracy, security and political stability, said democracy should not be 'one-size fits-all' concept.

“Democracy can't have a standard format. It has to be tailored to the local environment,” he said.—AFP