As a woman leader, I thought I brought a different kind of leadership. I was interested in women's issues, in bringing down the population growth rate... as a woman, I entered politics with an additional dimension - that of a mother.

To make peace, one must be an uncompromising leader. To make peace, one must also embody compromise.

I believe that democracies do not go to war; that's the lesson of history, and I think that a democratic Pakistan is the world community's best guarantee of stability in Asia.

Ultimately, leadership is about the strength of one's convictions, the ability to endure the punches, and the energy to promote an idea. And I have found that those who do achieve peace never acquiesce to obstacles, especially those constructed of bigotry, intolerance, and inflexible tradition.

It's never easy dealing with terrorists, but it must be done through a mixture of political, economic and administrative means.

Given the right to a free ballot, the people would support my return.

Democracy needs support, and the best support for democracy comes from other democracies.