ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: President General Pervez Musharraf has called for raising an Iraqi force to deal with its security problems, saying the presence of American or British forces in Iraq was not a solution.

In an interview with Newsweek's Lally Weymouth, President Musharraf said, "The visibility of any foreign troops - whether American or British - is not at all welcome in Iraq. Nobody likes [to be occupied by] foreign troops."

He said, "The answer lies not in bringing in more foreign troops but in raising the army in Iraq itself so it can take over security. Everything should lead to an exit strategy."

To a question if he discussed the exit strategy for US and British troops with President Bush and Prime Minister Allawi, he said, "Yes, both agree that Iraqi forces should be raised. But where they get the forces from is the question."

The president said Pakistan had offered to train troops for Iraq, but made it clear that 'under the present circumstances' he would not send troops to Iraq. When asked if the war in Iraq was a good idea and how it had affected the area, President Musharraf said, "I think it has complicated the situation in the Islamic world. It has increased the opposition to the US in the Islamic world."

When questioned about a solution he said the option was to: "Close down fronts. You have opened too many fronts [such as] the Palestinian front. The Palestinian front is affecting the entire Muslim world."

President Musharraf said, "All terrorist and militant activity in the world today has been initiated because of the Palestinian problem. This is because of the sense of hopelessness, alienation and powerlessness."

To a query if Osama bin Laden aimed to install radical governments in moderate Muslim countries, the president said, "If you examine how Al Qaeda came into existence, you'll find that the root is the Palestinian struggle."

About Osama bin Laden's capture, he said, "We don't know where he is," however when asked if he was alive, he said, "Most likely, almost certainly." About his meeting with President Bush and decision on any plan of action against Al Qaeda, he said, "We are in constant contact, and we cooperate on the intelligence side. President Bush knows what is happening. The strategy is coordinated."

The president when asked that the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, had complained that Pakistan had not been tough enough on Al Qaeda and Taliban enclaves along the border said, "We strongly condemn any statements of this nature."

He vowed, "We will not allow Al Qaeda or Taliban to operate from Pakistan. But the borders are mountainous and porous, and it is impossible to control the whole border," he added.

To a question about the need of sending more US troops in Afghanistan, he said, "More troops were required initially. That did not happen." He said though an Afghan national army was being raised but called for speeding up the process of building it.

"The visibility of foreign troops ought to be reduced and, ultimately, they need to exit," he said. About the assassination attempts on him, the president said, "There was involvement by some few lower-level people but there were no officers involved."

He said Pakistan was cracking down in all possible ways on terrorist groups in the country. "They are banned, and as far as recruitment, that is also totally banned. Groups may do it clandestinely, but previously they had offices and recruiting centres all over. Their accounts have been frozen and offices sealed," he added.

About the issue of his uniform he said, "I haven't said I won't take off the uniform; I have yet to decide." President Musharraf said Pakistan was following a certain foreign policy which needed continuity.

"We are fighting terrorism internationally and that needs continuity. Then, there is the issue of Indo-Pakistan relations. There is a rapprochement. Then, we are changing the entire psyche of our society, which has been held hostage to extremist ideas. The entire mindset needs to be changed, which we are doing."

About his views about the new Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, he said, "I think he is very much interested in peace. I have no reason to doubt his sincerity." About talks between Pakistan and India, he said, "We won't be able to move towards a solution in the first meeting. All that we can expect is to set a direction for ourselves and be sure of the sincerity of each side." -APP