§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the threat of Muslim fundamentalism to the political stability of countries bordering Afghanistan. [17032]
§ Mr. BradshawReligious beliefs, peacefully held, should pose no threat to any Government. But the extremist belief that the violent pursuit of political goals is justified poses a threat to the people of many countries, including those that border Afghanistan. However, extremists prepared to use indiscriminate violence in support of their religious, political or ideological aims form only a small proportion of the population of the countries bordering Afghanistan. We will continue to work bilaterally and multilaterally with these countries to preserve regional stability.