Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf Friday said his country remained firm in its commitment to root out terrorism, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

While talking to Stephen Krasner, director for Policy Planning in the US Department of State, Musharraf said responsibility in this respect had to be shared by all concerned. Krasner arrived in Islamabad Friday on a three-day visit.

Pakistan, Musharraf added, would continue to extend support to Afghanistan in its effort to bring about peace and stability in that country.

He reiterated his vision of Pakistan as a moderate and progressive Islamic state and an anchor of peace and stability in the region.

On the Pakistan-India relations, Musharraf observed that the two countries were moving in the right direction and had brought about considerable improvements in their bilateral relations.

He noted that a number of confidence building measures had been adopted. However, he stressed that for the dialogue between the two neighbors to succeed, they needed to resolve the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir as well as other outstanding issues.

Musharraf also expressed satisfaction with the pace and depth of the Pakistan-US relations, saying they had acquired a new strategic dimension based on shared interests.

Source: Xinhua