Claiming that his government has broken most of the radical gangs and terrorist outfits, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday said his grip on power was strong and moderate forces had reasserted themselves in the country.
"Since the assassination attempt on me, we certainly are winning. We have put them on the run, and we have broken their organisational ability within Pakistan.
"Therefore, as I personally am concerned, I would say I'm more secure. I feel more secure," he said in an interview to CNN.
Responding to a question in the context of the Amman bombings in which 57 people were killed, Musharraf said, "Yes, one has to take security measures also, but within Pakistan, we have really succeeded against the terrorists."
He also said that his grip on power was strong and that 'it's not a possibility at all' that radicals could take over Pakistan, especially in the light of local elections.
"There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this country is a moderate country and moderate forces have reasserted themselves, and religious forces have gone down," he said.
Asked if he could guarantee that an attack similar to the Amman attack will not take place in Pakistan against American facilities, he said, "One cannot guarantee their safety, but I can be sure that in the last one and a half years, there hasn't been a terrorist attack in Pakistan because of the success of our anti-terrorist campaign," he said.
He also brushed aside the implications of Islamabad's emerging foreign policy vis-a-vis the Jewish state of Israel, stressing that radical elements in his country will not be calling the shots and that most citizens support his policy.
"When we are talking to the Israelis and the Israeli foreign minister, or when I address the Jewish congress, I am very clear that this is the strategic direction that Pakistan needs to take," Musharraf said on CNN's Late Edition.
"The vast majority of Pakistanis, the media, the intelligentsia, the masses, have all accepted this. Nobody is questioning me at all. It is the radicals in the Western world that are more vocal about it, not the people in Pakistan."
Musharraf did not agree with the premise that Pakistan is not fully cooperating in the efforts to get at Osama bin Laden, that the efforts may be half-hearted. He said Islamabad is in full concert with the Central Intelligence Agency and coordinated efforts are taking place.
"I'm very optimistic about the outcome. And let me also say that we are in total contact with their intelligence organisations. The CIA and the ISI are totally coordinated on all intelligence work."
He also defended his decision to refuse foreign authorities access to disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan, saying his case was 'sensitive' and that the country was 'capable' of interrogating him.
"Indeed, I did not allow any foreign organisation or any foreigner to directly contact Dr Khan. We are doing it ourselves, and we are capable of doing it," Musharraf said.
Musharraf said Khan's case was 'sensitive' due to his popularity in Pakistan, where he is regarded as the father of the country's nuclear bomb.
"I think the sensitivity of ours is quite clearly understood," he said. "This man has been a hero to the man in the street."
Musharraf said Pakistan was able to interrogate Khan without the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency or other world organisations.
"Why is it that we are not being trusted for our capability in interrogating him? Why is it that we are not being trusted that we are sharing all the intelligence and information that we get out of him?" Musharraf said.
"Now, if there is a new piece of information that is acquired by anyone, if that is passed onto us, we will again interrogate, and we have full capability of interrogation, and we will again share the information which we have with anyone," he said.
"We are very sincere in sharing all that we acquire in the form of interrogation from him," Musharraf added.
Referring to the international relief aid for his country's earthquake victims, he said it had been 'reasonable', but more was needed for reconstruction efforts.
"At the moment, what is urgently required is relief for the people, affected people," he said, adding, "I think we have got, I would call it, reasonable support in the relief operation."
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