India, Pak should not allow terrorists sabotage peace process

Jaishree Balasubramanian
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 1 (PTI) Warning that terrorists wanted
to sabotage the Indo-Pak peace process, Pakistan Sunday said
the two countries should not allow extremists to dictate terms
to them.
Stating that Pakistan was committed not to allow its
soil to be used for acts of terrorism against any country,
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said India should
reciprocate its positive gestures to effectively fight terror.
The peace process has been put on hold by India since
last year's Mumbai terror attacks. India has linked Pakistan's
actions against terrorists to resuming the composite dialogue.
"We continue to strongly believe that the terrorists are
out there to sabotage the peace process between Pakistan and
India... Our two countries should not be driven and dictated
by them," Qureshi told Malaysian news agency Bernama in an
interview.
Qureshi, who is here for a meet of the Group of Eight
Developing Islamic Countries (D-8) beginning tomorrow, said
terrorism was a common challenge requiring a joint response.
"As you know, Pakistan is fighting terrorism in its
own interest. At the same time, we fully understand that in
order to deal with terrorism and militancy, regional
cooperation is a sine qua non," he said.
He later told newsmen that forces had surrounded the key
South Waziristan region, choking the Taliban militants in
their stronghold, as it hopes to establish its foothold in the
area before the winter sets in next month. (
Qureshi said the Taliban were in "disarray" and "on
retreat" in the face of sustained offensive by the military.
"Many important towns, many important locations in South
Waziristan have been taken over by the Pakistan army and quite
a few militants have been eliminated as well as arrested," he
said here, expressing confidence that the Army may achieve its
objective before the winter sets in in the region.
"The leadership that was located in South Waziristan is
on the run. They are in retreat and there is a disarray over
there," he said.
Pakistan launched a major military operation in the
region bordering Afghanistan on October 17, sending over
30,000 troops in operation 'Rah-e Nijat'(Path to Salvation).
"We are moving ahead with determination, with resolve...
And this is a completely different theater so you need time.
But I think our soldiers and our officers have adapted very
quickly," he said, adding that Pakistan wanted to achieve the
objective as much as possible before the winter sets in.
"And it seems as things are going on right now that we
might be able to do so," he said.
Qureshi said the Pakistani government was very clear
that it wants peace and stability in the country.
"We have got to ensure peace and stability in
Afghanistan. There is a linkage between the two. You cannot
ignore one and have peace on the other side," he said.
He said the offensive had been successful and the
resistance they had expected initially had not come with the
same stiffness as expected. PTI JB