He said flushing out terrorists from the tribal areas had become necessary for Pakistan as its own security was at stake.
He said action against terrorists was only being conducted in South Waziristan Agency, as the situation in other six agencies was normal. He hoped that calm and peace would prevail in the Waziristan Agency soon as the government has effectively handled the entire situation arising out from the presence of foreign terrorists.
President Musharraf said that the tribal people are patriotic and honest citizens of the country and have rendered great services for the integrity and solidarity of the country.
He said he had great regard for the tribal people. They fought wars for Pakistan and rendered sacrifices for the country. The president said it was a historic day today as through agency councils elected representatives this area would come at par with other developed areas of the country.
He said the tribal people would now decide their future. He said Fata council was the first step towards development of tribal areas.
President Musharraf was happy to note the presence of women councillors for the first time in the tribal areas. He said that no society could flourish without the active participation of women.
The president said that elected agency councils comprising representatives of the tribals have been set up without affecting the tribal tradition and culture.
He congratulated the NWFP governor and Peshawar corps commander for initiating development projects in the tribal area through political authorities and army.
He reiterated that all masterminds of terrorist acts that occurred in the country during the last few months had roots in South Waziristan Agency. He applauded the army and political authority for effectively tackling the issue.
The president said that development funds for the tribal areas have been increased from Rs 5 billion to Rs 9 billion, which also included Rs 2 billion being spent on the development projects initiated by the army. The president said his slogan "Pakistan comes first" was misunderstood and wrongly interpreted by some elements and said that it has nothing to do with Islam. Pakistan is the first Islamic state in the world and was created in the name of Islam. He said, "Don't compare it with Islam as Islam is in our heart," he explained.
Earlier, Malik Alam Sher from South Waziristan Agency presented Lungi to the president and governor. Nasarullah Wazir from North Waziristan also presented traditional Lungi to the president, while MNA Maulana Muhammad Sadiq from Bajaur presented gift to the president. Tribal elders from other tribal agencies also presented gifts and souvenirs to the president.
The function was attended among others by NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd), Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, Peshawar Corps Commander Safdar Hussain, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, parliamentarians from Fata, leading tribal leaders, Maliks and other senior officials.
Meanwhile, addressing the inaugural function of the golden jubilee celebrations of Khyber Medical College, President Musharraf said the government had successfully combated foreign terrorists in South Waziristan.
"The foreign terrorists posed a threat to country's security and had we not taken a strong action, they would have created problem for us," he said.
The president declared "Pakistan is not a soft country" where elements might indulge in whatever they liked.
He said the government had effectively allayed four major misperceptions Pakistan faced recently and now the country was widely regarded in the international community. Pakistan, he said, had a major role to play in the Muslim Ummah and the world affairs. He said the Muslim countries were looking up to the country for a leading role.
The president said Pakistan was an ideological state as envisioned by the forefathers and created for the Muslims of the Sub-continent where minorities also enjoy full rights.
The president emphasised vast majority of Pakistanis were moderate. They were religious but moderate, he said.
He also called for negation of the trend of branding fellow faithful as good or bad Muslims. The president asked the society to keep a strict check on those spreading sectarianism and religious hatred by using loudspeakers.
He said stern action would be taken against those who print and distribute literature fanning sectarianism.