World leaders wish Musharraf success in fighting militants in Lal Masjid

Indias Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Pakistans confrontation with militants at Lal Masjid had brought home the dangers of terrorism to that country and India wished it success in fighting the menace.

New Delhi, July 6 : India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Pakistan's confrontation with militants at Lal Masjid had brought home the dangers of terrorism to that country and India wished it success in fighting the menace.

Singh was speaking to women journalists, and wished Pakistan "Godspeed in tackling the dangerous situation" arising out of the fighting at the Lal Masjid.

"Pakistan is seeing terrorism for the first time. What is happening in Pakistan, is that thinking people have realised fundamentalism is perverse and dangerous to society," a news agency quoted him, as saying.

India last year said Pakistan was also a victim of terrorism and formed a joint counter-terrorism panel as part of a peace process.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called President Pervez Musharraf and praised his efforts to curb militancy and terrorism, the AFP quoted a senior Pakistani official, as saying.

"The British Prime Minister appreciated President Musharraf's role in the fight against terrorism, and promised to maintain close ties between the two countries," the official said.

The United States has conveyed its appreciation to the Pakistan government for being exceptionally patient while handling the Lal Masid crisis.

The US reacted on the issue cautiously, and the US State Department again said that it is an "internal security matter" of Pakistan and hoped for a peaceful resolution.

The US said that the Pakistan government had demonstrated "exceptional restraint" in dealing with the situation till now, adding that the US hoped that those who still resisting would choose to cooperate with the government.

"We are following the situation closely and hope for a peaceful resolution to this issue," the Dawn quoted the US State Department, as saying.

China also lauded the Musharraf regime for a crackdown on the Lal Masjid, where armed militants clashed with paramilitary forces.

"As a friendly neighbour of Pakistan, China backs Islamabad's steps to safeguard social stability and economic development," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, while replying to a question on Lal Masjid.

Last month, Lal masjid and Jamia Hafsa students were involved in the kidnapping of seven Chinese who were working in an Islamabad acupuncture clinic.

China had refused to comment on the prostitution allegations against the kidnapped Chinese, and said that the seven were operating a massage-cum-health centre that had all the necessary legal licences.

ANI