New York, Sept 27 (NNN-APP) President Pervez Musharraf has observed that Pakistan plays a key role in developing the story of 21st century and what happens in the country in the coming years will help decide the outcome of the global war on terror as well as shape what the future will look like for the West and Islam.

"This book is a window into contemporary Pakistan and my role in shaping it," he said Monday as his memoir, "In the Line of Fire", hit bookstores across the United States with many places reporting soaring sales.

Speaking at the influential American think-tank, the Council for Foreign Relations, President Musharraf said he had dedicated the book to the people of Pakistan who toil, sacrifice and pray for their country and who wait patiently for a better future. "They deserve a committed, selfless leadership, which can help them realize their boundless potential," he said.

Musharraf also dedicated his book to his mother whose unwavering faith in him has been the driving force in his life. "Her unconditional love and prayers remain my unremitting source of strength," he said.

President Musharraf said he decided to write his autobiography after Pakistan took centre stage in the world's conflicts, including the war on terror. "There has been intense curiosity about me and the country I lead. I want the world to learn the truth," he read out from his opening statement at the CFR meeting, attended by leading intellectuals, policy- makers and journalists.

Pakistan, he said, plays a key role in the developing story of the 21st century. "What happens in Pakistan -- socially, politically, and economically -- in the coming years not only will help decide the outcome of the global war on terror, it will also shape what the future will look like for both Islam and the West,� he added.

"I am determined that that future be peaceful and prosperous -- not just for Pakistan but for the entire international community."

However, he pointed out that that vision is possible only if the Muslim world and the West, led by the United States, strive together toward resolving the issues before them.

"My autobiography is my contribution to the history of our era. It is also of course my own story, expressed in my own way, about an eventful, turbulent life in which both luck and destiny played leading roles."