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YI: We come to the problem of terrorism, a worldwide problem. What should Pakistan do, to tell the world that Islam does not equate with terrorism. Is being the largest Muslim nation in the world convincing enough?

Mushahid Hussain: People should see us by our track record. There are aberrations in every religion. When Hitler committed crimes against humanity by eliminating 6 million Jews in Europe, nobody said that Hitler was a Christian, that a Christian killed the Jews. When a Jewish terrorist killed Itzak Rabin. Nobody called it a Jewish terrorism. Then the IRA were killing Protestants in northern Ireland, nobody called it an act of terrorism. Then the Tamil Tigers committed suicide bombings in Sri Lanka, maybe they called it Hindu terrorism. So why is this religious label given to people who are extremists, who are fanatics, who are terrorists, but who happen to be Muslims. So I don't think we need to prove anything until the case is very clear. We don't have pogroms, we don't have elimination of minorities, in the same countries. There are incidents in India, and it's a secular democracy, against Muslims. But nobody calls it ethnic cleansing, There was ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Bosnia. This was 10 years ago in Europe. So I think we should get it right. The issue is terrorism. And terrorism has no religion. Terrorism is a universal threat for all mankind: Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews, everybody. Anyhow, the problem just has to be tackled.

YI: Many people say the root of all the problems involving Islam lies in Palestine, that if the Palestine issue is solved, people would not be looking at Islam as a terrorist group. Do you believe that?

Mushahid Hussain: Let's look at the problem the other way around. Yes, Palestine is the root cause. But then there is also the issue of injustice, the oppression of the Palestinians. And this is the defining issue in relations between the western world and the Muslim world. So if this issue was resolved, so will the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, then half the problem of terrorism and extremism will go away. So, it is important that the issue be resolved if the suffering is to come to an end.

YI: This is what President Musharaf talked about when he visited Indonesia and Malaysia, that he was seeking new approaches to solving the problem there.

Mushahid Hussain: President Muhsaraf has always been very clear and categorical in his commitment to promoting the cause of Palestine, because he is convinced that until and unless the problem of Palestine is resolved, the issue will not go away, and his stand has been vindicated by events?

YI: Why haven't moderate Islamic states like Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia bound together for a special campaign to correct this negative image about Islam?

Mushahid Hussain: Absolutely. I think it's a battle of ideas, and this can only be fought collectively, jointly by Muslim countries, most of whom share the same worldview. I think it's important that we reach out in that context. Whether we do it the three of us or we do it under the banner of the Islamic conference, I think it would be a big service to the Islamic world.

YI: Because the moderates are not speaking out. They seem to fear the ‘Jihadists.'

Mushahid Hussain: That's true. Unfortunately, the voices that are more shrill, more loud, more harsh, are the extreme ones, not the moderates.

YI: Still on Pakistan's foreign relations, what is the focus of Pakistan's relations with the rest of Asia, like Japan, China and ASEAN?

Mushahid Hussain: Let's start with China. We have a very close camaraderie with China, a strategic relationship, a special relationship that goes back since 1966, a resilient relationship. And with Japan we have a good relationship. Japan is the biggest donor to Pakistan. Both Japan and China are now observers of SAARC, the South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation. And we want to be part of the ASEAN forum, and the Indonesian government has supported Pakistan. We also have long-term relations with Indonesia, since the days of President Sukarno. One of the public places in Pakistan is called Sukarno Square. He was highly respected because during the 1965 war with India, Indonesia gave us some support. And recently also, President Bambang Yudhoyono was in Pakistan and I had a chance to meet him, as the chairman of the foreign relations committee. Last year, in August I was in Kuala Lumpur to attend an Islamic conference. So we have a good relationship. With Malaysia also we were very close. In fact, we have good relations with most ASEAN countries, which we would like to strengthen.

YI: How would you go about strengthening those relationships?

Mushahid Hussain: I would say in three main areas: the economy, which includes trade and commerce, culture and thirdly, politics, diplomacy and security, because we have common threats, including the threat of terrorism also. We are all also democracies, barring Myanmar, so I think we have common elements that unites us.

YI: You are a busy man. Besides your work in parliament, you also write columns, do you have time to relax? How do you relax?

Mushahid Hussain: I relax by reading, by listening to some music on my IPOD and watching movies.

YI: What's your favorite book?

Mushahid Hussain: Current history. These days I'm reading the memoirs of a famous actor, Sydney Poitier, The Measure of a Man. I also like biographies, Current Speak. It's a good book that just came out on the Iraq War.

YI: Physical exercises?

Mushahid Hussain: I work out in the gym everyday and I go horseback riding and I go for a sauna. And my philosophy is like that old Doris Day song, Que Sera Sera. So, what will be will be.

YI: On that note, Senator, thank you for being with us today.