Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Dated: March 25, 2006
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf-facing
pressure to crack down on foreign extremists hiding out in Pakistan-ordered
all foreign militants to leave the country or be killed.
"All foreign militants should leave Pakistan,
otherwise they would be crushed," Musharraf told a rally of some 80,000
people in the eastern city of Lahore on Thursday.
Musharraf's comments come amid increased tensions
between Pakistan and Afghanistan over allegations that Islamabad is not doing
enough to prevent the Taliban and AI Qaida forces from launChing cross-border
attacks from within Pakistan. Washington, which sees Islamabad as a key ally
in its war on terrorism, has also urged Musharraf to flush out Islamic militants
from its remote tribal regions.
Pakistani security officials have said hundreds
of foreigners including Arabs, Uzbeks, Chechen and Afghans-are hiding in the
North and South Waziristan tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, Pakistani security forces
backed by helicopter gunships attacked a suspected AI Qaida hideout in the
rugged frontier and killed dozens of suspected militants, mostly foreigners.
The military said the slain militants included an Al Qaida-linked Chechen
commander.
Musharraf said foreign militants were also
involved in acts of terrorism within Pakistan. " I will not tolerate
the presence of these terrorists in Pakistan. They should leave our country,"
he told the rally on Thursday.
Pakistan was once a key supporter of Afghanistan's
former Taliban regime, but withdrew its backing after the September 11, 2001,
attacks in the United States. Since then, security forces have arrested more
than 750 Al Qaida suspects. Most have been turned over to the US.
Musharraf, has survived at least three known
attempts on his life, all blamed on AI Qaida-linked militants.
The rally in Lahore was to mark the lOO-year
anniversary of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League.
