Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday expressed concern over the growing suicide attacks in the country and vowed to target the source of the suicide bombers.
"We are concerned at the suicide attacks. We will target its source. Unless we target the source we can not eliminate the scourge," Musharraf told a function organized to mark the birth anniversary of Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
"We have the conviction to crush it," Musharraf said, adding that internal security would be improved.
Musharraf said, "there is no problem of external security. Our strategic forces are in better position. We have nuclear and missile force. All missiles are test proven."
Musharraf said that internal threats had assumed new dimension due to extremism and terrorism. "Unfortunately we are facing a new dimension and we will have to deal with it," he said.
He said that attempts were made to "spread terrorism from the tribal regions to settled areas in North West Frontier Province (NWFP)."
Referring to Swat valley in NWFP where the army had been engaged in major operation against the militants over the past two months, Musharraf said, "I pay tributes to the army and the people of Swat. We crushed those who were spreading terrorism. Such policy will also be pursued in other areas. We should not take rest unless we eliminate terrorism and extremism."
Musharraf said the elections would be held in time on Jan. 8, 2008 and no one would be allowed to disrupt the process.
He rejected the allegations that elections would be rigged. He said that some people had started allegations of rigging before the elections were held.
Musharraf said foreign observers would come to Pakistan to monitor the polls. "The elections would be fair. This is my commitment," he said.
More than 300 people, including soldiers and policemen, have been killed in suicide attacks in Pakistan this year.
Source: Xinhua
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