PESHAWAR, Oct 9: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has asked the illegal foreign elements in Fata to lay down arms and get registered with the authorities, saying "the government won't let its soil to be used by the terrorists against any other country".

We must continue the dialogue process, because it was the only durable and maintainable solution to end terrorism, Mr Sherpao said while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the Media Marketing Association here on Saturday evening.

It was wrong that the US was pushing Pakistan to do away with the foreign militants in Pakistan, he said, adding "let terrorism be eliminated and an atmosphere of brotherhood and harmony among all religious sects be created to make Pakistan conducive for the investment.

President Musharraf had banned religious terrorism in August 1999 much before the Sept 11, 2001. But our very integrity is at stake for which we must strive, he said.

Being a front-line state in war on terrorism, the government, he said wanted to keep the people well-informed concerning the factual position.

The people on their part should extend their cooperation to the government in its war on terrorism, he said.

Mr Sherpao expressed concern that president, prime minister and other important personalities were being attacked and atmosphere appeared to have been completely vandalized.

Mr Sherpao said that innocent people were killed for no fault of theirs, therefore it was the prime responsibility of the people to cope with the problem. He said that continuing militancy adversely affected the country and investors were scared of bringing their money.

Earlier, he administered oath to the office-bearers of the Media Marketing Association.

President of the Press Club Mohammed Riaz demanded that the government should get the 7th wage board award implemented. He said that the last cabinet meeting had a consensus on linking the government's advertisement to implementation of the award.