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

In 1988, when democracy was restored, the military establishment was still very powerful. The extremist groups were still there. And when the aid and assistance to Pakistan was cut, we had to adopt harsh economic policies. So in a way, it showed that democracy doesn't pay, and the military was able to reassert itself.

The next decade cannot be a decade of confrontation and contention. It cannot be east vs. West. It cannot be men vs. women. It cannot be Islam vs. Christianity. That is what the enemies of dialogue want.

A people inspired by democracy, human rights and economic opportunity will turn their back decisively against extremism.

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

Dictatorships by their nature are unrepresentative as they neglect the social needs of the people.

I seek to lead a democratic Pakistan which is free from the yoke of military dictatorship and that will cease to be a haven, the very petri dish of international terrorism.