Taliban militants killed in Bajaur air strike: Musharraf

Wednesday November 01, 2006 (0338 PST)

ISLAMABAD: An aged activist of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal holds a placard during a demonstration in front of Press Club Camp Office to protest against air strikes on a religious school at Bajaur Agency which caused 80 lives. Email Most Popular Print Add to Favorite Related Links Musharraf statement on Bajaur agency incident insulting: Political, Religious leaders Nationwide protests over Bajaur bombing Fazl blasts Musharraf over Bajaur incident 83 feared killed in Pak army air strike in Khar Opposition to observe Nationwide strike against attack on Madrassah More Related News >>  Pictorial ,  No of Pictures: 36  Cartoons , No of Cartoons: 1  Speak Out Militancy Labeled WANA Operation

ISLAMABAD: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that the 80 people killed in the air strike on a seminary in Bajaur were Taliban militants adding that army and force would be used against militancy anywhere in the country.

The President while addressing a seminar titled, "Security in South Asia in the Non-Traditional Spheres and Human Security" jointly organized by the Institute of Regional Studies and National Commission for Human Development here at the National Library on Tuesday said, "The air strike was carried out on the basis of authentic intelligence reports that Taliban militants were engaged in military training in a seminary in Khar and all the killed were the Taliban militants instead of innocent people".

"Those who say the victims of the air raid were innocent people are false," he added.

President Musharraf warned that both Army and force would be used against militancy anywhere in the country and no one would be allowed to challenge writ of government.

The President was of the view that changes were rapidly taking place around the globe and the situation was turning from traditional security to non-traditional security and motive behind it was the longstanding political issues that needed to be addressed. "These political issues are giving birth to terrorism, extremism and other problems which should be resolved on priority basis," he advocated.

Musharraf said, "We have to maintain balance in defence and development budgets and we are taking steps in this regard".

He said Pakistan has to maintain its strategy of minimum defense deterrence keeping in view the geographical condition of Pakistan. "We will maintain traditional arms which are our needs," he added.

He said terrorism and extremism were major threats the world was facing and policies should be chalked out to tackle them in line with the environment. " We have understood our environment and are taking steps to cope with the menaces," he added.

The president remarked that the military alone could not restore peace and underlined the need for political and administrative strategy in this connection.

Citing Indo-Pak peace process the President said, "We want result oriented dialogue with India over all outstanding issues including Kashmir".

Meanwhile, secretary general PML, Mushahid Hussain Syed condemned the killing of civilian people in Bajaur air strike.

He underlined the need for resolution of Kashmir, Palestine and Iraq issues. "Peace cannot be restored in the world until these issues are resolved amicably," he added.