PARIS (AFP) — Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday won pledges of support from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who called for free, transparent and safe elections next month in the nation hit by unrest.
Musharraf met with Sarkozy on the second leg of a European tour aimed at shoring up his battered image after months of turmoil and the assassination of opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto last month.
"France will continue to provide its full support in the fight against terrorism, because France and the world have an interest in stability, unity and democracy-building in Pakistan," said Elysee spokesman David Martinon.
"The only response to terrorism and terrorists is holding elections in the best possible conditions, with freedom, plurality, transparency and security," added Sarkozy's spokesman.
After his Elysee meeting, Musharraf told journalists he had an "excellent exchange of views" with Sarkozy on terrorism and their countries' bilateral relationship.
"I must say President Sarkozy is a great friend," he said.
"He appreciates the conditions in Pakistan, he understands the difficulties that we are facing and I must say that I'm extremely impressed by his vision of our relationship and his vision toward fighting terrorism and extremism in the world."
Sarkozy told Musharraf that France would seek more economic aid for Pakistan when it takes over the six-month presidency of the European Union in July, according to an Elysee official.
Musharraf earlier dismissed fears that his nuclear-armed country could slip into Al-Qaeda's hands, saying there was a "zero percent chance" of a takeover by Islamic extremists.
Addressing a foreign policy institute, he insisted it was impossible for militants to gain access to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
The only way for that to happen, he said, would be if Al-Qaeda or the Taliban "defeated the Pakistani army entirely" or if extremist religious groups won next month's elections.
"There is a zero percent chance of either one of them," Musharraf said. "They (the weapons) cannot fall into any wrong hands."
Months of unrest and Bhutto's assassination have crystallized fears in the West that Pakistan risks spinning out of control.
Musharraf pledged that elections postponed after Bhutto was killed and now scheduled for February 18 would be "free and fair" and added: "We will make sure they are peaceful."
Regularly accused of failing to keep a lid on extremists, Musharraf rejected suggestions Al-Qaeda could take advantage of the situation to seize control of the country.
"We don't think it is possible that this Al-Qaeda or Taliban can take over in Pakistan," Musharraf told the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). "We cannot be defeated like this."
Islamic militants launched new attacks on forts on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan Tuesday, leaving seven troops and 37 rebels dead.
Musharraf has been keen to bolster his credibility as a pivotal ally in the fight against terrorism following Bhutto's assassination, blamed on Al-Qaeda and allies of tribal leader Baitullah Mehsud.
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner earlier this month became the first high-ranking foreign official to visit Pakistan after Bhutto's murder and offered French and European help in investigating her killing.
Pakistan has said it was open to international help but has rejected calls for a United Nations inquiry into the assassination.
Musharraf arrived in Paris from Brussels and travels later Tuesday to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum. He is to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the sidelines of the Davos forum on Wednesday.
He wraps up his European tour in London on Saturday.
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