By IRNA
Islamabad : President General Pervez Musharraf said on Monday Pakistan is going ahead on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project despite its opposition.
He was speaking at a special programme, attended by a select group of people drawn from different walks of life, “Aiwan-e-Sadr Say” (from presidency) to mark the 60th independence anniversary of Pakistan.
Pakistan will celebrate Independence Day on Tuesday.
President Musharraf dispelled the impression that Pakistan is doing everything on the behest of others.
He said Pakistan is pursuing policies in country’s interest and the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project is one of the examples.
He said Pakistan has good relations with Tehran.
He said that all policies of the government are pro-Pakistan and not being dictated by any other state.
The President said he saw everything from Pakistan’s point of view as Pakistan comes first.
He quoted many examples where government adopted independent policies which were in the best interests of the country.
He said Pakistan did not oblige Washington’s request to send its troops to Iraq as it was not in the country’s national interest.
The President said Pakistan went ahead to recognize Hamas government in Palestine despite the fact that it was being opposed by many western countries.
He said on human rights issue Pakistan cast its vote on many occasion at international contrary to the United States.
We must fight and defeat Al-Qaeda who are spawning terrorism in the world. These foreign terrorists are also committing terrorist acts inside Pakistan.
The President said there are also some of misguided Muslim brothers following the course of militancy, committing suicide bombings and also targeting the armed forces.
Referring to some threatening statements against Pakistan emanating from the United States, the President said President Bush called him to assure that his country would honour Pakistan’s sovereignty.
He said some people pass remarks in the US media, as being done in the free media of the country, and this did not represent the US government.
He said there have been no threats at the US government level.