Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf Sunday underlined the need for political and economic measures along with military action for defeating militant Taliban and bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"The international community should give Marshal Plan-like programs for reconstruction and economic development in Afghanistan especially in its South Eastern region," Musharraf said while addressing a joint press conference with visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Governor House in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore Sunday afternoon.

The official APP news agency quoted Musharraf as saying that he didn't support Talibanization at any time but wanted political steps parallel to military action to root it out, as terrorism couldn't be controlled with only military action.

"We have to come up with a broader strategy and this strategy must involve political elements and reconstruction and development," he said.

Musharraf reiterated that Taliban problem was an Afghan problem, adding that its solution lay in what was done in Afghanistan and not what was being done in Pakistan.

He strongly denied the allegations that Pakistan didn't take sufficient measures against terrorism and Taliban. He said that Pakistan was doing all it could to prevent extremists in his country aiding the war in Afghanistan. He admitted that some elements in the country were extending support to Taliban.

He said that Pakistan was doing much more than its capacity.

"We have suffered casualties. We have suffered about 600 dead. Now if you think that we are suffering dead by not doing any thing, or not doing enough, then we are not seeing reality," he said.

Musharraf said that Pakistan was the only country which is trying to implement the whole package which meant addressing all the aspects including military, political, administrative and also reconstruction.

At the same time, the Pakistani president urged Afghanistan to take more actions. "Because the Taliban problem is on the Afghanistan side and the battle has to be won on the Afghanistan side," he said.

Source: Xinhua