Note the Pakistan paper’s sneer quotes around “terrorism,” even though this is one of Pakistan’s better papers. Also, it would be nice if Musharraf (or anyone else) could present a picture of this “true path” he mentions that would be coherent from the standpoint of Islamic theology and law. Without that, the radicals will always be able to quote abundant chapters and verses to show that theirs is in fact the true path.
And as for Israel, I wish he would explain to me what Israel has to do with the jihads in Indonesia, the Philippines, Kashmir (his own backyard, that one), Nigeria, etc. From the Daily Times of Pakistan, with thanks to Fanabba:
BAKU: Islamic ‘terrorism’ is holding the Muslim world hostage, President Pervez Musharraf said on Friday during his visit to Azerbaijan.
“But the West must also change its attitude to the Islamic world and persuade Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territory, if global terrorism is to be defeated,” he said.
The Pakistani leader made the remarks in a speech about the challenges facing the Islamic world during his state visit to Azerbaijan, a mainly Muslim state which has forged close links with Islamabad.
“Unfortunately, the Islamic world is faced with many problems. It is as if the Islamic world is facing a storm,” the president, speaking through an interpreter, told a special session of the Azeri parliament.
“It is also unfortunate that terrorism harms Muslim countries. The tactics they use, such as car bombs, executions and other dirty methods, damage our great religion. Today they are holding our societies hostage. They must understand that they cannot solve the problems of the Islamic world this way. I call on them to return to the true path,” the president said.