New York: Defending his decision to renege on his pledge to step down as Army Chief, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has claimed his leadership is freeing his country from the menace of extremism and that this national "renaissance" might be lost if he steps down as Army chief at the end of this year.

In an interview to the 'New York Times' today (Sep 20, 2004), Musharraf said he had succeeded in breaking up the network of a top Pakistani scientist who provided illicit nuclear technology to other countries, adding that full extent of that network was not yet known.

Of his promise to serve only as the country's civilian President after December 31, Musharraf said, "Yes, I did give my word that I would." The step has been viewed as fulfilling his larger promise to return Pakistan to democratic rule, "but the issue is now far greater than this."

During his hour-long interview, Musharraf claimed Pakistan is making significant inroads into al-Qaeda, arresting some 600 suspects, ending the terrorist network's illicit fund-raising in major cities and breaking up long established bases in remote border areas. This effort required "continuity", he said.

"This was a culture, a society which was moving towards extremism and fundamentalism, and I am trying to reverse this trend and give voice to the vast majority of Pakistanis who are moderate," said Musharraf.