Bush says Pak amongst nations where terror networks had created "safe havens"

Washington, June 7 : US President George W. Bush has assured all possible help to work with Pakistan to combat "ideologies of hate", because, according to him, Pakistan was among the nations where terrorist networks had created safe havens and were "threatening to overwhelm their institutions".

"It's in America's vital interest to help all these nations combat ideologies of hate. It's in our security interest to eliminate safe havens for terrorists and extremists. We're in a different struggle today, but we're in an ideological struggle against violent extremism. To beat extremism, America needed to do more and the effort requires using the power of liberty to marginalise extremists. And, the best way to do so is to use our national resources to strengthen the institutions of freedom," said Bush

Speaking at the US Institute for Peace, Bush underlined two categories of nations -- those facing a serious threat from extremists and those where America used direct military intervention to remove undesirable regimes and was now helping them build vital national institutions.

He placed Pakistan in the first category, and said that countries in the other category included Afghanistan and Iraq where the US used direct military intervention to remove 'dangerous regimes' that threatened American people. "And, now we have a special obligation to help them build free societies that become allies in the fight against these extremists," the Dawn quoted him as saying.

Bush further said that it was also in America's interest to help develop institutions that allowed these countries to govern their territories effectively and improve the lives of their people.

ANI