08 October 2004	Friday	22 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: Foreign policy experts and scholars Thursday condemned terrorism in all its menifestations but termed the US-led war on terror unjustified. They lauded European countries' stance on US-led war in Iraq and called for interaction between Europe and Muslim world to deter ethnic and religious conflicts.

Speaking at an international conference on Europe and Muslim world at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said despite close relations with the US, Pakistan never supported America's war on Iraq.

Referring to recent reports of US experts that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction, Mr Kasuri cited the big protest rallies staged in Europe, US and other countries against the war and said it has proved Pakistan's stand that the war on Iraq was unjustified.

The minister appreciated the role of France and Germany in opposing the war on Iraq and said "it is of political nature and has nothing to do with the clash of civilizations as portrayed by some elements".

He said Pakistan has adopted a independent view on international issues and added that attack on Iraq, Afghanistan and threats to Iran and Sudan, could help only those who are talking about the clash of civilizations.

He welcomed the European Union's talk offer to Turkey for the latter's entry into its fold. "The announcement is a correct step and in the right direction, and it demonstrate the differences between European and American perception of Iraq war," the minister said.

He also spoke on his government's independent stand on the Darfur crisis which ought not to be mishandled by the West. Pakistan's role about these issues has been one of moderation as has been enunciated by President Musharraf. And has been adopted by the OIC at its summit conference held at Putrajaya.

In addition we have to ask the western world as to why all the trouble spots were in the Muslim world. It is because the conflicts of the Muslim world have not been resolved.

Commenting on the misconceived approach in the West linking Islam with violence he said it was wrong. Islam is a very liberal religion and the inclusive spirit of Islam has made great contribution to world civilizations.

Later, in the interlude between the inaugural and the first working session, Mr Kasuri also talked to journalists on a number of other issues, including the reformation of the UN.

"It's not only about the enlargement of the Security Council, but the UN as a whole. Pakistan must look at it from the perspective of the last 50 years or so. For one thing the veto vote has been largely misused and needs correction."

Asked whether President Musharraf would again meet the Indian President Manmohan Singh at the next Saarc summit to be held at Dhaka next January Mr Kasuri replied "people do meet each other on such occasions and issues are also discussed but there is nothing definite but perhaps it could develop.

About Kashmir the foreign minister reiterated Pakistan's view that the wishes of the Kashmiri people must be taken into consideration. But we want to reach that stage in well-considered terms so that it might not appear that the Indian interpretation is the only correct view or vice-versa in case of Pakistan.

Former foreign minister Agha Shahi in his welcome speech described the EU's invitation to Turkey as rejection of Samuel Huntington's clash of civilization theory. He expressed the hope that the dialogue between Europe and the Muslim world would reject the Huntington thesis.

In the end of the cold war the hopes were high that at last the world would witness peace and prosperity. The phenomenon of globalization and economic interdependence gave rise to such an optimism that interaction and cooperation would lead to better awareness and understanding of each other's religion, politics and socio-economic and cultural values. But the veteran foreign policy expert felt dismayed that in the post-Soviet disintegration, new threats have replaced old ones and the theory of "clash of civilizations" was dominating the mindset of a segment of world population as well as policy makers in various parts of the world.

Now, conflicts based on ethnicity, religion and culture posed challenges to post-World War-II nation states. The 9/11 incidents followed by invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq have exacerbated these fears.

In addition policies of the USA, and the militaristic policies of Israel and India and the use of the doctrine of pre-emption on occupied people conveyed an impression of the inevitability of clash of civilisations.

In fact the Muslim people view the Afghanistan and Iraqi invasions as a crusade launched by the US-led West to dominate and enslave the Muslim world. Mr Shahi stressed the need for dialogue among civilizations and hoped that the conference would highlight the commonalities existing among various civilizations.

Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Standing Committee, and PML secretary-general Mushahid Hussain in his keynote address at the inaugural session recalled the killing of 6 million Jews in the wars between Christian and Jews which had taken place in the 20th century and the change that has taken place in the thinking of the European community vis-a-vis the Muslim world.