ISLAMABAD President Asif Ali Zardari has said that some people are still using religion as a weapon for their own benefits and we are facing its consequences at the countrys borders. Addressing an International Conference on Sufism and Peace arranged by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Zardari said, We are harvesting crops of militancy, which were sown in the name of religion. Around 80 delegates from 30 countries around the world and 250 from Pakistan are participating in the conference. We will never bow before terrorists and will never allow the extremists to advance their murderous agenda within the country and the region, he added. He said Islam did not teach any of its followers to adopt violent means for realization of objectives. It preaches peace, tolerance and harmony and most importantly love - love for each other and for humanity, he said. The President said his late wife always knew that an assassins bullet awaited her and said, I am not scared of death, for death is what I await and my weaknesses are my strength. He said he too in his capacity was trying to play a role to help humanity. I am nothing more than a speck in the universe and I am trying to do my bit as that speck as it was my defined role, he said and added that he would continue to contribute towards a better world. We were followers of Islam and there was a dire need that we should promote agenda of Sufism, the President said, adding, there was also a need for religious harmony. He said the entire free world was responsible for creation of terrorists decades ago, but unfortunately no attention was paid to this aspect once the objectives were fulfilled and the militants were left to their fate. Dictators, bureaucrats and those people who had lust of rule had always used religion as a weapon, he said, adding that, not only Islam but also Christianity and Judaism were used for politics across the world. Late Benazir Bhutto, had also informed Senior Bush during his Presidency, about the worlds most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden, he said. We have thrown out a dictator after coming into power, but we could not get rid of terrorism and extremism, Zardari said. President Zardari said extremism and militancy were a mindset, created to defeat a rival ideology in the region and the extremists were encouraged to use religion as the basis of their ideology. He said the entire philosophy of Sufism revolved around purification of the souls and creating an environment where humanity was not threatened by a few individuals trying to impose their narrow versions of religion upon a vast majority. President Zardari also quoted slain Benazir Bhutto, who once said, Money was lavishly given to the clerical parties and they were asked to set up schools to train robots in the use of arms and in the use of hatred. The declared purpose was to fight Jihad but the real purpose was to create a constituency, a cadre and the manpower to seize power by violent means should the dictatorship come unhinged. He said that Pakistan was home of great Sufi saints who dedicated their lives for promotion of peace and harmony and the vast majority of people believe in peace and universal brotherhood as enshrined in the teaching of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Islam, the President said. The President urged the gathering to play their part in making the world a better place to live. May we all live in peace throughout the world. The world needs the touch and care and the deep thought of sufism. He said the conference shows Pakistans commitment to the cause of peace and the deep bond of its people to the forces of love, harmony and brotherhood, which is the message of sufis. Chairman PAL, Fakhar Zaman, in his keynote address, highlighted the importance of men of letters using their pens in establishing peace in the world. He stressed for initiating a social and intellectual movement as the need of the hour to remove the discrimination of race, sex and creed at global level. He hoped the conference would help develop a culture of peace based on justice, dignity and human rights, and called for producing the independent and unbiased work devoid of cliches. Peter Curman, a Swedish writer, urged upon the writers to play a role as ambassadors of peace and make efforts for developing mutual harmony amongst the people across the world. Prof Dr Hugh van Skyhawk spoke on divine love and message of peace, the role of poetry and courage among the Sufis to rid the world of the ills that afflict it. Advisor to Prime Minister on Education Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali mentioned the role of Sufi saints of the sub-continent that brought a sea change in the minds and lives of people with the divine message of 'Tasawwaf based on love. He termed religious extremism and terrorism in contrast with the teachings of Islam, which only promotes brotherhood and affinity.