Terrorism is an import from the West: Musharraf

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has virtually blamed the United States and other Western countries for terrorism emanating from his country.

He has said the Taliban and Al-Qaida constituted elements initially promoted by the West.

"Terrorism is not a Pakistani phenomenon but an import to the country... The whole world is to be blamed, it is an import to the country," Musharraf remarked while speaking at the Oxford University on Friday.

Mujahideen, who were brought, trained and financed by the West to fight Soviet troops coalesced into Al-Qaida after the withdrawal of the invading [Soviet] troops, he said.

Referring to the Taliban, Musharraf said the members of the religious seminaries were also recruited, financed and armed by the US and the West.

He, however, acknowledged that Pakistan had supported the Taliban against the Soviet troops.

After the Soviet defeat, Pakistan was left high and dry by the world to fend off over 30,000 Mujahideen and to deal with over four million Afghan refugees, said Musharraf, against whom the realisation is growing world over that he is not a sincere ally in war against terror.

The comments came days after Musharraf said that after the 9/11 attacks, the US had threatened to bomb Pakistan to stone age if it did not cooperate in the war against terror, generating much heat.

He had also said that CIA had paid money for transfer of Al-Qaida cadres.

Facing growing attack for not doing enough to control terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Musharraf said, "The West or anyone else, who are criticising us, needs to understand that we need assistance and understanding to address the issue."

He said, "We are fighting terrorism in our own national interest. It also happens to be in the interest of the global community and so, we are collaborating with the US and the West."

Musharraf said his government was pursuing a holistic strategy to fight terrorism and extremism, adding that without addressing extremism, the fight against terrorism will never succeed.

Seeking to underline Pakistan's role in fight against terrorism, he said without the support of his government and ISI, "You [the West] will be brought down to your knees."

He told BBC radio in an interview: 'Pakistan is the main ally. If we were not with you, you would not manage anything. Let that be clear.'

Responding to the view that Pakistan was not a good ally in the global fight against terror because of its links with terrorism, Musharraf said, 'If the ISI is not with you (West), you will fail.... Remember my words, if the ISI is not with you and Pakistan is not with you, you will lose in Afghanistan.'

Musharraf has been under fire in the wake of leakage of report of British Defence Ministry's think-tank, which said that ISI was indirectly supporting extremism in Afghanistan, Iraq and Britain.

During his speech at Oxford University yesterday, Musharraf ducked the issue of the alleged 'disappearance' of terror suspects arrested in Pakistan, instead focusing on the need to combat international terrorism.

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International had alleged that hundreds of terror suspects arrested in Pakistan are being tortured and illegally transferred into US custody in return for money.

Rights campaigners called on Musharraf to reveal the fate of the 'disappeared'.

Amnesty also wanted a list of detention centres in Pakistan and a register of all those held on suspicion of terror offences.

It claimed many terror suspects were sold to the US by bounty hunters.