ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said Thursday any coalition to fight terrorism must be based on trust among its members or else it will be meaningless.
Musharraf defended his country's record on the war against terrorism and rejected criticism that Pakistan is not doing enough in that regard, Voice of America reported.
"There must be trust," he said. "If there is no trust, no commitment, then I think the coalition is meaningless."
The Pakistani leader spoke at the closing session of a two-day anti-terrorism conference, which was focused on improving international cooperation in the anti-terror campaign. It was attended by senior military commanders from 21 countries, including the United States, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the report said.
"It is meaningless if we are not all on board, if we are bluffing each other, if Pakistan is bluffing, and if I am bluffing, I think we should be out of the coalition," Musharraf told the delegates.
Criticism of Pakistan stems from concerns in the United States and Afghanistan that scores of Taliban have set up military bases inside Pakistan's remote tribal areas, and that some in Pakistan's military intelligence may be linked to the insurgents.
Musharraf denied any such ties, VOA said.
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