Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf today said there is "no external threat" to Pakistan and the country faced greater danger from extremists and terrorists.

"There is presently no external threat to the security of the country," the military ruler said. The threat from "extremists and terrorists internally" is "greater" than any external threat, he said.

"The terrorists will be dealt with full force," Musharraf said on the interactive programme "Aiwan-e-Sadr Sey" telecast on state-run PTV.

"Terrorism is to be fought forcefully...we have to eliminate terrorists," he told a gathering at the presidency comprising mostly students, professors, mayors and businessmen. We do not want to enter the arms race, however, we have an effective weapons system which is a guarantee for our defence, he added.

Musharraf asked the nation to stand alongside the law enforcement agencies in the fight against extremists and terrorists for a safe and secure future and said, "unless the people of Pakistan rise against extremists and terrorists, the threat from them would continue." 

The theme of the show, telecast every Friday, was "security from external and internal threats". Musharraf said the armed forces were well equipped and fully prepared to protect the country.

He noted that the vast majority of the people were against terrorists. A combination of force and dialogue is "being used against people who are still caught up in a time warp", he said.

Source : PTI