WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Monday gave no assurances that U.S. bombing of Afghanistan would stop during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan which starts mid-November.
``We have great respect for the views and concerns of the many countries that are cooperating in this effort,'' he told a media briefing.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Monday: ``One would hope and wish that this campaign comes to an end before the month of Ramadan.''
Asked about this, Rumsfeld said: ``There continue to be terrorist threats in this world and the sooner we deal with this problem the less likely it is that you are going to have additional terrorist attacks.
``History is replete with instances where Muslim nations have fought among themselves or with other countries during various important holy days for their religion and it has not inhibited them historically.''
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