Saturday, February 26 2005 16:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Religious extremism is promoted in Government-funded schools in Pakistan to manipulate fervour in pursuit of foreign policy goals, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report has said.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is also not actively cracking down on madrassas preaching religious extremism because he needs the support of Islamist political organisations, the report, prepared by K Alan Kronstadt, CRS analyst in Asian Affairs, said.

"There appears to be few differences between public (Government-funded) school and madrassa syllabi with regard to the levels of intolerance that are assuming dangerous proportions," CRS, in the report updated till the end of 2004, said.

"Despite President Musharraf's repeated pledges to crack down on the more extremist madrassas in his country, there is little concrete evidence that he has done so. Many speculate that Musharraf's reluctance to enforce reform efforts is rooted in his desire to remain on good terms with Pakistan's Islamist political parties, which are seen to be an important part of his political base," it said.

"It appears that even setting side the question of President Musharraf's sincerity and full commitment on this issue, resistance to the reform of Pakistan's madrassas is fierce," the report added.