Terrorism to cease with Mush regime: Bhutto

Montreal, Aug 20: A day after President Pervez Musharraf linked his re-election with stability in the country, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said the threat of terrorism in Pakistan would cease only with the departure of the Musharraf-led military regime. "As long as we have a Cabinet that needs the threat of terrorism to sustain a military dictatorship in Pakistan we're never going to get rid of terrorism," Benazir told Canada's CBC public TV channel.

"The root cause of the problem lies in the government's inability to enforce its writ in the tribal areas," she added.

She went on to claim that the money that has gone into Pakistan from the US has not led to "the pacification of the tribal areas where people are desperately poor, and the militants exploit this poverty to hire them as soldiers."

"Our people have been thrown to the wolves. They've been thrown to the militants," Benazir said.

"The religious militancy can lead Pakistan to a civil war. Abhorrence against army among people living in Balochistan is increasing day-by-day due to military operation there. The solidarity and integrity of the country is in danger", the Daily Times quoted her as saying in another interview.

"The Taliban have established their own government in the tribal areas. They impose tax on people and kill them by declaring them as spies," she added.

Commenting on the ongoing power-sharing negotiations with Musharraf, Benazir said she is open to such a deal if the President gives up his uniform, as "the military is the problem."

Urging the international community to support a transfer to a democratic government in Islamabad, she said, "True democracy will deal with the social and economic needs of the people of Pakistan."

ANI>