Islamabad: Asserting that Pakistan would follow a policy of deterrence to defend itself against any aggression from India, President Pervez Musharraf today (Dec 12, 2003) said New Delhi should avoid construction of fence along the line of control (LoC) in view of prevailing ceasefire and other confidence building measures (CBMs) between the two countries.

Speaking to media after inducting into the Navy Pakistan's first locally-built Agosta class submarine at the Southern port of Karachi, Musharraf also said the country faced no external threat, but only a danger from extremists and sectarian elements from within, and called for waging a concerted fight against religious extremists.

"With the presence of Pakistan's armed forces, there is no external threat to the country. However, we face danger from within."

Musharraf said Pakistan's policy of building a military deterrence against India was well founded and a credible deterrence would be maintained in the field of defence.

"This strategy is defensive and that we have no design to go offensive and attack an enemy. But if we are attacked, we will defend and in that defence we are going to be very very offensive. We won't be merely defensive, we are going to be offensive in defending ourselves. That is the strategy," he was quoted as saying by the official media in Islamabad.

Replying to a question on India building fencing along the LoC, he said the status of the line of control should not be changed at all by India.

Anything that changes the status of the LoC should be avoided, especially in the interest of prevailing ceasefire and attempts by the two countries to build a rapprochement to resolve all disputes, Musharraf said.

He said Pakistan had already lodged a protest with India on the issue of fencing.

About Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Islamabad to attend the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit to be held in Islamabad in January, Musharraf said he was hopeful that Vajpayee would come, but he could be sure about it only when the Indian premier lands in the Pakistan capital.

Musharraf also spoke of anti-tank missiles and surface-to-air missiles and said these are the main strength of Pakistan Army and they were being further enhanced.

On the Air Force front, Pakistan would induct the new plane JF-17 Thunder, which was built jointly with China. "The Thunder is an excellent jet," he said.

Asked about the talks between the Government and the Islamist alliance Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA) to end the political deadlock over his constitutional amendments, he said one should "wait and see" whether an agreement was reached.

Yesterday, Musharraf said in Quetta that he was not cowed down by MMA's threat to organise street protests from Dec 18 if no agreement was reached.

Challenging the MMA to go ahead and show its strength, he said the alliance could not do anything that caused any concern and asked it to stop issuing threats.

MMA said it would go ahead and launch an agitation against Musharraf despite death of its chairman Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani yesterday.

PTI