President General Pervez Musharraf said on Monday that Pakistan's fight against terrorism and extremism was in its own national interest and not at the behest of any other country. "We are not fighting terrorism and extremism for the sake of America, but we are confronting this menace in our own interest," the president said in response to a question in a special television programme called 'From Aiwan-e-Sadr'.The president described terrorism and extremism as the country's biggest challenges as they were a serious threat to peace, security and development. He said Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups were hiding in the tribal areas and were involved in terrorist activities. "It is time that the entire nation rises against them," he said, adding that poverty and lack of education were the root causes of militancy. "Our policy is pro-Pakistan...I strongly believe that Pakistan comes first," he said. "I do not blindly pursue policies of others and see everything from Pakistan's point of view."
He recalled that there was Western pressure on Pakistan to despatch troops to Iraq, which he resisted. Similarly, there was Western opposition to the formation of a Hamas government after it won elections in Palestine, but Pakistan recognised it. On several occasions, Pakistan voted "against the wishes of others" on human rights issues at international forums. There were several objections to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline plan, "but the project is in our interest and we are pursuing it," he said. About statements made by US presidential candidates calling for unilateral US action in Pakistan's tribal areas, the president said, "I am 200 percent sure that these [views] are [held] neither at the official nor government level."