By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has sought help from Pakistani tribesmen along the Afghanistan border to evict foreign Islamic mercenaries so that the NATO-led forces also "vacate that country".
To achieve peace with Afghanistan, it was necessary first to oust the mercenaries who have made the rugged tribal areas of Pakistan their home for many years, the Daily Times Wednesday quoted him as saying.
"They have outlived their hospitality," Musharraf told a tribal 'Loya Jirga' (grand assembly) in Peshawar.
He made it clear that the Pakistan government would be able to eject the "foreign elements" from tribal areas only with the support of the people living in the areas.
"We have been housing (foreign elements) and providing them hospitality for 28 years but now they are becoming a threat for our solidarity," he said.
Islamic fighters from around the world flocked to Pakistan following the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Many of them subsequently joined forces with Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.
Musharraf, who is under relentless attack from the West for not doing enough to crush Islamic militancy, said the elements of terror were misusing the name of Islam and that there was no threat to the religion in Pakistan.
He added that suicide attacks, bomb attacks and "other terrorist acts" did no service to Islam.
The Daily Times said several tribal leaders, including MPs, boycotted the tribal assembly saying they were not consulted.
Musharraf's address comes amid frequent reports of firing from across the border by NATO-led forces that have caused casualties on the Pakistani side.
The president said that a joint Loya Jirga of the tribals from Afghanistan and Pakistan would be held soon.