“There
must be no doubt that we must all act and launch a war against
extremism and terrorism,” he said in a speech to students at the
prestigious Peking University on the second day of a visit to meet
China’s new leaders.
“But
let me say that these are only symptoms. If we want to win the war
against extremism and terrorism, we must also address the root causes.”
His
comments were in a similar vein to those of outspoken and recently
retired Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad who warned last month that
conflicts would never be won through brute force.
“Operations against Al Qaeda and the Taleban, Hamas and Hezbollah are all of short-term tactical value,” said Musharraf.
“Long-term
strategy lies in addressing the root causes of terrorism. What is the
cause of extremism and militancy? It is hopelessness, powerlessness,
desperation, injustice and because of non-resolution of long-standing
political dispute.
“That is the cause. Also added to this are poverty and lack of education.”
Pakistan,
home to several Islamic extremist organisations and a hideout for
hundreds of Al Qaeda fugitives, has since the September 11, 2001
attacks, evolved as a crucial ally of Washington in its anti-terror
campaign.
Musharraf
said Pakistan joined the US-led war against terrorism ”as a matter of
principle” but warned that Muslims increasingly feel that Islam is
being targeted in the current campaigns being waged by the United
States.
Without
referring to the administration of US President George W. Bush
explicitly, he said many people in the West were under the impression
that Islam was a religion of extremism, militancy and intolerance.
“Both these misconceptions are wrong and must be addressed,” he said.
He
emphasized that Islam does not teach extremism, militancy or
intolerance and was not in conflict with democracy, secularism and
modernism.
“Unfortunately, the Muslim extremists show a distorted version of our great religion Islam.”
The Pakistani leader is on his first visit to Beijing since China’s new leadership was installed in March.
His
trip comes five months after his arch rival, Indian Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee, was welcomed by Chinese President Hu Jintao as the
first Indian premier in Beijing for a decade.
China’s
relationship with both its nuclear-capable South Asian neighbours has
been viewed as of particular interest since India and Pakistan began a
delicate peace process after coming close to their fourth war last year.
Musharraf
said Tuesday Islamabad wanted to develop peaceful relations with India
but accused New Delhi of lacking “sincerity” over the Kashmir issue.
India is adamant it will not resume direct dialogue with Pakistan until “cross-border terrorism” in Kashmir comes to an end.
China
also holds a small area of the region and Musharraf praised Beijing for
its “principled stand” on the issue, while pledging to continue
Pakistan’s support for China over Taiwan and human rights.
“Pakistan
and China won independence almost at the same time in a different era,”
he said. “We have come a long a way from where we started.”
Pakistan
relies heavily on China for its defence equipment, since the United
States stopped supplying it with military hardware in 1990 amid claims
it had acquired the capability to produce nuclear weapons.
