Then came September 11. The events that day altered the South Asian state's outlook.

Following its decision to side with the international coalition against the "terrorist network" of Osama bin Laden, Pakistan -- with 140 million residents -- is today a front-line state fighting terrorism.

After airborne attacks on New York's World Trade Center and The Pentagon in Washington, the United States planned a massive operation against chief suspect bin Laden, being sheltered by Afghanistan's then-ruling, hard-line Taliban regime under Mullah Omar.

Pakistan's geographical location -- it shares a border with Afghanistan -- made the country a valuable asset to the United States in its efforts to destroy bin Laden's terrorist network.

In an address broadcast at that time on state-run TV, President Pervez Musharraf announced Pakistan would co-operate with the US-led international coalition, saying, "it was the best option for Pakistan."

That decision came with a heavy price. Withdrawing from a years-long association with an Islamic country to join the "infidels" sparked widespread resentment among Pakistan's hard-line Muslims.

Pakistan's creation had been based on Islamic ideology.

Regardless, Musharraf in his January 12 speech banned five extremist organizations -- Lashkar-I-Taiba, Sipah-I-Sahaba, Pakistan Harkatul Mujahideen, Tehreek-I-Jafferia Pakistan and Jaish Mohammed.

Numerous activists from these outlawed groups -- believed to have been involved in extremist actions and religion-motivated killings -- were arrested following that announcement.

Musharraf also announced a plan to reform Pakistan's religious schools to ensure the country's more than 8,000 madrasah (religious systems of education) do not promote extremism.

About 1.7 million students receive religious educations in these institutions.

The Pakistani Government also enacted a law providing two years of imprisonment for anyone caught teaching militancy or sectarian hatred in these religious schools.

While praised by observers for moving in the right direction, Musharraf's plan enraged the extremists, who accused the regime of compromising Pakistan's sovereignty.

Those extremists attacked Westerners and Pakistan's Christian minority.

Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was the first victim. The militants later attacked churches and killed dozens of Christians.

Eleven Frenchmen were killed in suicide bombings in Karachi, and an attack weeks later on the US Consulate claimed 12 Pakistanis.

These attacks have not deterred Musharraf. "Pakistan is a victim of terrorism, but we stand firm to root out this curse," he said on August 14 during an Independence Day address.

The Pakistani Government tightened security and introduced laws to curb extremism after reports that al-Qaida fugitives who survived the Tora Bora bombing had slipped into the country.

An estimated 3,000 runaway terrorists had entered Pakistan, most hiding in the semi-autonomous tribal area near the countries' border.

Pakistan had deployed about 10,000 soldiers to prevent illegal immigrants, and to capture anyone who sneaked into the country. About 380 al-Qaida terrorists have so far been arrested.

Terrorism in Pakistan has taken a new turn since reports that extremists in the country linked with al-Qaida activists for a "common cause."

That alliance was blamed for the Frenchmen's murders and the US Consulate attack.

But the recent assault on a missionary school in Murree and a grenade attack on a Christian eye hospital in Taxila, which killed scores of people, prove the two evil forces are working in unison.

The Pakistani Government has launched a massive manhunt in the tribal areas to flush out al-Qaida terrorists.

Pakistan, however, will not allow American soldiers to operate on its soil. Pakistani officials say their forces are capable of dealing with terrorism inside the country.

The Pakistani Government, to rein in extremists, has introduced laws compelling the registration of Madrasah. It is also investigating the schools' overseas funding sources.

Funding for these Islamic schools must now be routed through official channels.

The government has decided, in principle, to establish a Special Investigation Group in the Federal Investigation Agency to counter terrorism and sectarian violence.

Pakistani officials have also amended the century-old police act to empower law-enforcement agencies to more effectively deal with terrorist threats.

One year later, the fight against terrorism and extremism continues.

Pakistan's future role in that fight will depend on how the new government, to emerge after October 10 voting, deals with extremists, who can irreparably damage the country.

(China Daily September 6, 2002)