Terrorism shouldn't harm Indo-Pak peace process: Qureshi

Kuala Lumpur: Warning that terrorists wanted to sabotage the Indo-Pak peace process, Pakistan said the two countries should not allow extremists to dictate terms to them.

Stating that Pakistan was committed not to allow its soil to be used for acts of terrorism against any country, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday that India should reciprocate its positive gestures to effectively fight terror.

The peace process has been put on hold by India since last year's Mumbai terror attacks. India has linked Pakistan's actions against terrorists to resuming the composite dialogue.

"We continue to strongly believe that the terrorists are out there to sabotage the peace process between Pakistan and India... Our two countries should not be driven and dictated by them," Qureshi told Malaysian news agency Bernama in an interview.

Qureshi, who is in Kuala Lumpur for a meet of the Group of Eight Developing Islamic Countries (D-8) beginning on Tuesday, said terrorism was a common challenge requiring a joint response.

"As you know, Pakistan is fighting terrorism in its own interest. At the same time, we fully understand that in order to deal with terrorism and militancy, regional cooperation is a sine qua non," Qureshi said.

He later told newsmen that forces had surrounded the key South Waziristan region, choking the Taliban terrorists in their stronghold, as it hopes to establish its foothold in the area before the winter sets in next month.

Qureshi said that the Taliban were in "disarray" and "on retreat" in the face of sustained offensive by the military.

"Many important towns, many important locations in South Waziristan have been taken over by the Pakistan army and quite a few terrorists have been eliminated as well as arrested," Qureshi said on Sunday, expressing confidence that the army may achieve its objective before the winter sets in in the region.

"The leadership that was located in South Waziristan is on the run. They are in retreat and there is disarray over there," he said.

Pakistan launched a major military operation in the region bordering Afghanistan on October 17, sending over 30,000 troops in operation Rah-e Nijat (Path to Salvation).

"We are moving ahead with determination, with resolve... And this is a completely different theatre so you need time.

"But I think our soldiers and our officers have adapted very quickly," Qureshi said, adding that Pakistan wanted to achieve the objective as much as possible before the winter sets in.

"And it seems as things are going on right now that we might be able to do so," he said.

Qureshi said the Pakistani government was very clear that it wants peace and stability in the country.

"We have got to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan. There is a linkage between the two. You cannot ignore one and have peace on the other side," he added.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister said the offensive had been successful and the resistance they had expected initially had not come with the same stiffness as expected.

He said Pakistan and the US had the "shared objective" to eliminate elements that have created havoc in Pakistan and are potentially dangerous for peace and stability.

Pakistan had requested the US to share the findings of Afghan review and seek its input, Qureshi added.

"Our input might be useful... And the more we coordinate, the more effective our operations will be, on both sides of the border," he emphasised.