June 10, 2002	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28,1423

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 9: Five major Pakistani American organizations, alarmed by continuous tension between Pakistan and India, have formed a coalition to project Islamabad’s point of view and counter India’s propaganda in the United States.

This new bloc is planning simultaneous peace rallies in all major US cities to press upon the Americans dire consequence of a possible nuclear war between the two countries, a coalition statement released here says.

The coalition will also highlight Pakistan’s numerous peace proposals and its eight specific proposals to de-nuclearize South Asia.

It plans to launch a nationwide drive to send letters, faxes,e-mails and petitions to President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell, urging them to help avoid a possible nuclear holocaust in South Asia.

In the joint statement the five bodies have said that there will remain a threat of war between the two neighbours as long as the Kashmir issue lingers on. Therefore a solution of the Kashmir problem is necessary to restore peace in South Asia.

The statement points out that Pakistan is a traditional friend of the United States. “It always supported US policies and gave sacrifices for that. During the Cold War, Pakistan stood with the US while India was in the Soviet camp.”

The coalition demanded that the US should declare Indian extremists bodies— Vishva Hindu Parishad, Shev Sina, Rashtria Sevek Sangh and Bajrang Dal — as terrorist organizations for their killing of the Christians and Muslims, particularly for their role in the recent genocide of Muslims in Gujarat.

The organizations included in the bloc are: Pakistani Physicians of North America, Council on Pakistani American Affairs, Pakistan American Congress, Pakistan American Democratic Forum and Pak-PAC.

Meanwhile, the American Muslim Political Coordination Council, an umbrella body of four leading American Muslims political groups reaffirmed its support to the right of self-determination of Kashmiris and called on both the Bush Administration and United Nations to play an active role in mediating this conflict.