‘We Will Not be Blackmailed’

Put down their arms against Pakistan or against Afghanistan as well?
This [extremism] is a war against humanity, the world community. How can we separate the others [allies and neighbors] from us?

But aren't the militants saying that perhaps they can make peace with Pakistan but that the jihad against foreign forces in Afghanistan must continue?
As a sovereign country, we in Pakistan have to respect our own laws and constitution. As far as NATO forces and Afghanistan are concerned, they are dealing with the militants separately. But we are helping [NATO and Afghanistan]. We are helping them because we don't want cross-border activities [from our territory]. We are very strict on this and will remain so.

So you'll continue to try to stop cross-border movements of militants?
We will discourage that. But at the same time the terrain is so difficult and the border is so lengthy that even if we deploy the whole Pakistan Army there we may not be able to control [the frontier].

The United States has said that if Pakistan cannot control the border then it will take unilateral action. And there have been recent reports of U.S. Predator aircraft taking such unilateral action, striking inside Pakistan without Pakistan's consent. Is this happening, and if so will it continue?
We believe in democracy and the rule of law, and we want respect for the sovereignty of the country. At the same time, since I have been the chief executive these [unilateral attacks] have never happened, and it will never happen again because they [the United States] have to have prior permission. And I think we are capable [of handling the problem] ourselves.

What about recent reports from Washington that the U.S. not only wants to strike Al Qaeda targets in the tribal area but also at Pakistani militants?
In terms of the Predator, since I took over nothing has happened like this.

Has the U.S. been exerting a lot of pressure on you to take a certain line regarding President Musharraf or the war on extremism?
I have already mentioned that it's our war. We are with humanity and the world community. We are a global world and we are fighting for the [same] cause. And our primary objective is to control the law-and-order situation in Pakistan. As for Musharraf, he is an individual, and so that has to be dealt with according to the Constitution.