Musharraf for immediate end to Lebanon war, fears could affect Pak

Islamabad, July 20 (UNI) Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf tonight appealed to the world community to work for defusing the escalating violence in Lebanon and take steps to bring the conflict to an end through dialogue.

He also called on the international community to help resolve the lingering Palestinian dispute which was at the heart of the crisis in West Asia.

''I appeal to the world to end this crisis, move towards ceasefire and resolve it through dialogue process,'' President Musharraf said in his televised address to the nation.

The President said that Israel was already in conflict with Hamas and Hizbollah but now it has openly attacked Lebanon.

''The conflict has escalated...the bigger fear is that Syria or Iran may be dragged in the conflict,'' he cautioned, urging the world community to help find a negotiated settlement of the crisis.

President Musharraf also urged the world community to help resolve the Palestinian dispute which ''was the root cause of the conflict in the West Asia and had wider implication worldwide.'' ''The Palestinian issue is the root cause, so when I call for an end to the conflict (in Lebanon), there is an imperative need to resolve the Palestinian dispute which has far-reaching impact throughout the world,'' he stressed.

The President also underlined that the escalating violence in West Asia could have an impact on Pakistan and called for ''national unity to ensure the country's security.'' ''It (the conflict) could have an impact on Pakistan...we need to ensure our own security, and it is the national solidarity which will ensure the country's security,'' he said.

The President also spoke of the success of the government in improving law and order in the tribal regions and curbing terrorist activities.

He said the terrorist elements were now on the run but the situation has now changed and the focus shifted to Taliban, who are operating in southern Afghanistan and Kandahar under control of their supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.

He also criticised Afghan allegations against Pakistan of not doing enough in the ongoing war against terror and said this is simply unacceptable. ''We can also respond to such allegations in an equal measures but exercise restraint as we have to fight the anti-terror war together,'' he asserted.

UNI XC AK DB2301