Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri in Islamabad Sunday said a comprehensive approach is needed to root out the causes of terrorism and avoid targeting particular countries or religion in the anti-terror war. 

"A comprehensive approach is required to deal with the matter. If we are serious about combating terrorism we will also have to focus on the root causes of terrorism," Kasuri told independent News Network International in an exclusive interview.

He stressed that utmost care is needed to ensure that the fight against terrorism does not turn into a rift between the West and the world of Islam to avoid any serious repercussions for world peace and stability.

"Similarly, the regrettable practice of racial profiling, targeting of the citizens of particular countries or peoples belonging to a particular religion and regions would severely jeopardize the campaign against terrorism," said the minister.

He described as equally important the need to curb the tendency on the part of some countries to use the international sentiment against terrorism for advancing their own narrow agenda.

"Countries engaged in state terrorism are trying to dub the movements for freedom and right to self-determination as terrorism. This would deprive the international campaign against terrorism of its moral legitimacy. We also reject the canard of the so-called 'Islamic terrorism'. Terrorism has no faith," Kasuri said.

He emphasized Pakistan's commitment to combating terrorism remains firm and that the Pakistani government believes use of force alone would not suffice if the objective is to eliminate and not merely to suppress terrorism.

Referring to Pakistan's nuclear program, Kasuri reiterated Pakistan will never compromise on its nuclear capability. "It will not roll back or freeze its nuclear program," said Kasuri, adding Pakistan takes its responsibilities as a nuclear weapon state very seriously and therefore will fulfill its commitments and obligations in the nuclear field.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2004)