(no subject)

 

Musharraf: Look to terrorism roots LONDON, England (CNN) -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says the fight against global terrorism needs to move beyond military action and address the root causes of militant extremism. "I see the war on terrorism in two dimensions," Musharraf told reporters Monday following a meeting in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "The first dimension is its immediate dimension and that is on fighting terror head-on militarily," he said. "And then there is there is the strategic long-term dimension and that is getting at the core of what creates terrorists, what creates an extremist, militant environment which then leads on to terrorism.... That is the resolution of political disputes." Musharraf's comments come one day after he told CNN in an interview that the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was a mistake that has made the world a more dangerous place. "I think it's less safe," Gen. Pervez Musharraf said on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer." Asked whether he considered the invasion a mistake, the Pakistani leader said: "With hindsight, yes. We have landed ourselves in more trouble, yes." But he added that a swift withdrawal would make matters worse. (Full story) Musharraf was in Washington on Saturday for a brief meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush before flying to London for talks with Blair. Blair, speaking Monday's joint news conference with Musharraf, backed the Pakistani president's view on fighting terrorism. "Most sensible people looking at the world today know that since September 11 we have got to take every action that we can to fight terrorism militarily," he said. "But we would be foolish to ignore the causes upon which terrorism preys. And that is why it is also important to address those political disputes as well. "At the moment, we are in a difficult time for the world, when the relationship between Britain and Pakistan is strong, but we need that strength to tackle the problems we face together." As for Iraq, Blair said: "We agreed that whatever the issues of the past, the important thing now is to see the strategy through and ensure that Iraq is capable of becoming a stable and democratic state." On Tuesday, Musharraf is to deliver a keynote speech in London, before traveling to the northwest English city of Manchester to meet community leaders. In Washington, Musharraf and Bush discussed the issue of terrorism, bilateral concerns, relations between India and Pakistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Full story) Pakistan opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. However, Musharraf said he does not believe U.S. and coalition troops should pull out immediately. Only after elections are held and the situation stabilized should the United States consider a withdrawal from Iraq, he said. "[An early withdrawal] would create more problems in the region," he said. "Now that we are there, we need to stabilize the situation." After the interview, a Pakistani government spokesman called CNN to say that Musharraf did not intend to be categorical in his assertion that Bush had erred in invading Iraq.