ISLAMABAD Dec 5: Speakers at a seminar stressed the need for initiation of political dialogue which what they said was necessary for national reconciliation, religious harmony and return to democracy.

The seminar “Pakistan, Afghanistan and the prevailing situation” was organized by Jamaat-i-Islami here on Wednesday.

Syed Munawar Hasan, the acting chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, said that the Afghan situation after Taliban’s removal should not be taken for granted and they (Taliban) should be credited for resisting a brute power. “It will be long”The war will prolong while public reaction against innocent killings and the government’s decision to join the US-led coalition would cause more public outbursts.”

Referring to the term small minority opposing military government, he said that it should be kept in mind that all the movements in the country which resulted into fall of governments were launched by the religious elements.

He said, it was the responsibility of army leadership to take necessary measures to shed the misgivings attributed to it due to wrong policies adopted by General Musharraf both on national and international levels.

Such a process, he said, could result into the emergence of a consensus interim government which should hold general elections as well as work for reforms.

He said no sane patriotic Pakistani would wish to pit army against the people and it could only be the US and Indian agenda of creating a situation of clash so as to weaken the discipline of armed forces and put its defence capabilities to doubt.

He said the president had violated his own agenda of appointing an independent chief election commissioner and taking a decision to increase assemblies seats.

He claimed that the ongoing Afghan situation had helped the people of Muslim countries understand the shortcomings of their rulers. He said the OIC had become a dormant organisation by failing in doing any good to rid hapless Afghan people from state terrorism unleashed by American coalition on them.

Former foreign secretary and PML(N) leader Akram Zaki dispelled the impression that the US coalition’s action had any permission of United Nations. He said the real purpose of attacking Afghanistan was to undermine Muslim world which became target after the fall of former Soviet Union which happened with the active help of Muslim jehadis. He alleged that the American standards of human rights had been changing with the passage of time and according to its own interests. He said against the UN resolution of 1960 which called for support to all move-ments/struggles for the national independence as basic right of humanity remained no more relevant in context of new American strategy. The last UN resolution, he said, also called for resolving all pending issues which caused militancy and taking up arms in the world.

Zaki claimed that real objective of America in Afghanistan was laying the gas pipeline which the Taliban regime did not allow. it. Besides, he said, the US had been successful to establish its bases in Central Asian states to watch its interests with reference to China and Russia.

He called for the early setting up of a broad-based government in Pakistan to justify its demand for a similar setup in Afghanistan.