Musharraf blasts extremists

Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf yesterday attacked extremists for their "shameful" attacks on Christians and West-erners, and restated support for Kashmiri self-determination.

In an unusually tough speech marking the 55th anniversary of Pakistan's independence, Musharraf said the extremists were playing into the hands of Pakistan's enemies.

"The recent attacks on our Christian brothers and sisters are the most shameful and despicable examples of terrorism," he said.

"Other than the innocent victims that have been killed who is the loser? Nobody but Pakistan, our country and the poor of Pakistan whose sustenance depends on jobs through investment which shied away."

"All this was in the name of Islam," Musharraf said. "These misled criminals and terrorists and their tutors even have the audacity to think their actions are the route to paradise."

Musharraf said several gangs of militants implicated in the chain of recent attacks had been broken up and 15 militants arrested. But he also took the opportunity to lambast arch-rival India over the contentious issue of Kashmir.

He vowed that Pakistan would never compromise on the right of Kashmiris to self-rule, and rejected Indian polls starting next month in the disputed state as a bid to legitimise India's "illegal occupation".

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