Musharraf defends contacts with Israel
Hopes donors would rise to $5 - rebuilding challenge
DM Monitoring

ISLAMABAD—President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday defended his recent attempts to engage Israel’s government, saying most Pakistanis support his policy.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said he enjoyed widespread support for the diplomatic breakthrough, which both sides have said was the result of Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
“When we are talking to the Israelis and the Israeli foreign minister, or I address the Jewish congress, I am very clear that this is the strategic direction that Pakistan needs to take,” Musharraf said on CNN’s “Late Edition.” “The vast majority of Pakistanis, the media, the intelligentsia, the masses, have all accepted this. Nobody is questioning me at all.”
Pakistani officials said Saturday that Musharraf told a visiting American Jewish leader last week that Pakistan would consider formally recognizing Israel only after the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Pakistan, which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, has long demanded that the Jewish state end its occupation of Palestinian territory and that the Palestinian state should emerge on the world map with Jerusalem as its capital. President General Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan will appeal to international community and donor agencies for $ 5 billion relief assistance in the donors conference for reconstruction and rehabilitation of quake affectees.
“We need five billion dollars for rehabilitation and reconstruction of quake-devastated areas. I will appeal to our friends and donors institutions on this count in donors conference taking place on November, 19”, he said this in an interview with CNN here Sunday. President underscored that international community and donors institutions had played vital role to help quake survivors in Pakistan. “ We are convinced to it. We want that world community and donors agencies join us in our efforts for rehabilitation and rebuilding of quake devastated areas at this difficult time”, he held.
He noted that there was no difference in the reports related to estimates of losses. The estimates worked out by the national and international institutions on rehabilitation and reconstruction are approximately equal and these have been agreed upon.
Citing to relief work being carried out by Jehadi outfits, President Musharraf said their work was being closely watched. They are engaged in relief activities in quake hit areas. They will not be allowed to foment extremism and spread their ideas.
Replying to a question in the perspective of Amman bombings, he ruled out possibility of regrouping of extremist elements in Pakistan. All the apprehensions are baseless in this regard, he added. Armed forces and security forces have carried out successful operations in the tribal areas of the country, he underlined. They have killed several foreign militants and captured dozens of them there. Pakistan has spearheaded the campaign against terrorism. Pakistan army is deployed on Pak-Afghan borders, he indicated. Therefore, the apprehensions on regrouping of extremists in the territories of Pakistan are not correct, he asserted.
To a query about life attempts on him, President said “ I feel myself safe and secure today as compared to yesterday. The performance of Pakistan intelligence agencies is commendable, he observed. “ We succeeded in eliminating extremists networks in Pakistan due to efforts of our intelligence agencies, he added. Extremists have not enough power to take over government.