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| India-Pakistan |
| Taliban are threat to mankind-Wajid Shamsul Hasan |
| 2009-05-07 |
| [Associated Press of Pakistan] Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has described Taliban as threat not only to his country but to mankind as well and said they need to be eliminated. He was speaking at a discussion organised by the member of British Parliament Lord Nazir Ahmed in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday on the situation in Pakistan, the Sharia law, the Taliban and terrorism. The High Commissioner said that in view of the dangers facing Pakistan, every citizen of the country must rise to the occasion and challenge this scourge of Taliban. He said there was a need to distinguish between Taliban and Islam, and Taliban do not deserve to call themselves Muslims as they are killing the members of their own religion. He paid tributes to Pakistan Army in its endeavour to establish the writ of the government in the troubled areas of Swat, Buner and Lower Dir and said the country has suffered immensely in terms of men and material in this conflict. The High Commissioner called for inquiry by the UN into the funding of the Taliban, acquisition of sophisticated weapons and heavy duty vehicles. Noted British journalist and member of the Respect Party Yvonne Ridley said the West must stop demonising Pakistan whose people are moderate and peace loving. Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Asif Durrani stressed on solving the Middle East issue as Al-Qaeda's global threat was related to that region. He brushed aside claims that Taliban pose danger to Islamabad. Lord Ahmed spoke of the historical links between Pakistan and Britain and the said British Pakistani Diaspora has the moral responsibility to assist their land of origin in its hour of need. A number of councillors of Pakistani origin including Mushtaq Lasharie, Hamza Malik, Riaz Mirza, Pervez Chaudhry and Sikander Lodhi also spoke on the occasion and called for removing the misperception about Pakistan while making efforts to promote and strengthen democracy. The meeting also passed a resolution calling on Maulana Sufi Mohammad, Maulana Fazalullah, HajI Muslim and other leaders of the Tehrik-e-Taliban to lay down their arms and co-operate with the State authorities to provide good governance, justice and development in the region. The British elected councillors of Pakistani origin also called upon the NGOs to help rebuild villages that have been destroyed in the drone attacks and by the Taliban. The resolution called on the British Government to exercise influence on American government to stop drone attacks on Pakistan and the Tribal leaders in the FATA region to drive out foreign fighters who are using Pakistani soil to launch attacks inside Afghanistan. The document further called on Pakistan Government to establish a national peace, dialogue and reconciliation centre in Islamabad and in FATA and Baluchistan to promote peace and harmony. The resolution urged the British Pakistani and Kashmiri communities to help in rebuilding peace and stability in Baluchistan, FATA and Malakand regions by providing financial and logistic support. It requested all the political leaders to unite for the supreme national cause of unity in Pakistan and refrain from playing politics at this critical juncture. The British councillors strongly condemned the attacks on women and girls in schools by extremists as well as those on the police, law enforcing agencies while recognising the suffering of the civilians in FATA areas. The UN was urged to address the issue of three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan and assist their return home. |
| Posted by:Fred |