April 18, 1995, DAWN, Manila seeks Islamabad's help against terrorism, by Anjum Niaz,

April 18, 1995, DAWN, Manila seeks Islamabad's help against terrorism, by Anjum Niaz,

ISLAMABAD, April 18: Manila on Tuesday sought Islamabad's help to fight against terrorism and sign an anti-terrorist agreement to flush out Muslim militant groups operating from here who are believed to be involved in carrying out acts of terrorism in the Philippines. 

Official sources told Dawn that the Philippines Interior Minister Raphael Alunan conveyed the proposal to his Pakistani counterpart Naseerullah Babar at a meeting here. Alunan is heading a nine-member delegation for talks with Pakistani officials and during his three-day stay he is expected to meet several senior police officials dealing with terrorism. He is scheduled to visit Peshawar also. 

Diplomatic sources said Manila has complained about Muslim separatists groups in the Philippines having links with the Filipino Muslims living here and were receiving moral and material help from them. 

Earlier, Foreign Minister Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali said that Pakistan had pledged to fight against terrorism and will entertain the Philippine government's request for an agreement on anti-terrorist law. 

It may be mentioned that thousands of Muslim militants came to Pakistan during the Afghan war when Pakistan and the US armed and trained them to fight the Soviet occupation forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. After the war, the militants stayed on and associated themselves with Afghan mujahideen groups and non-governmental organisations engaged in welfare work inside Afghanistan.

DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week ending : 20 April 1995 Issue : 01/15 (c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 1995