Peace elusive till terror eradicated: Gilani
Peace would remain elusive till extremism was eradicated from Pakistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday, vowing to bring to its logical end the war on terror.
Peace would remain elusive till extremism was eradicated from Pakistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday, vowing to bring to its logical end the war on terror.
"Militants are enemies of the country and peace will prevail once militancy, extremism and terrorism are fully stamped out," he said while speaking to a delegation of clerics and religious scholars that called on him at the Parliament House in Islamabad.
A host of issues, including the political situation of the country, rehabilitation of the refugees who had fled the fighting zone in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and other matters of national importance were discussed during the meeting, Online news agency reported.
The Prime Minister said extremists were enemies of Pakistan and wanted to destabilize the country. They would not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs, he added.
"The whole nation is united in the war against terrorism. This war would be brought to its logical end," he said.
"We will have to move ahead side by side for eradication of terrorism and for the sake of national security. Peace will remain elusive in the country unless extremists and terrorists are fully eliminated," Gilani maintained.
The Pakistani military is currently engaged in a major anti-Taliban offensive in three districts of the NWFP that entered its 53rd day Thursday.
The military says close to 1,500 Taliban have been killed in the operations so far. Some three million civilians have fled the area.