ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: The Foreign Office on Thursday deplored Pope Benedict’s remarks against Islam. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam in a statement regretted that a respected religious leader of his stature had made partisan remarks against Islam.

She said the pope’s statement proved that he was unaware of the life of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

She said the pope’s ‘highly controversial and regrettable statement’ could fan religious disharmony.

Pope Benedict XVI courted controversy during a visit to his native Bavaria town in Germany on Tuesday when he fleetingly criticised the Islamic concept of jihad.

The spokesperson said the pope was a respected personality not only for Christians but also for Muslims and he should avoid issuing controversial statements.

Religious scholars and leaders also criticised Pope’s remarks and urged him to play a positive role in bringing Islam and Christianity closer.

“The pope’s attitude is very different from that of his predecessor. Instead of bringing Islam and Christianity closer, he is straining relations between the two religions,” Khurshid Ahmed, head of the Institute of Policy Studies in Islamabad, told AFP.

“In the present political atmosphere such views can be exploited by those who are trying to malign Muslims and Islam.”

“We expect the pope to play a positive role in promoting relations between religions and civilisations,” Mr Ahmed said.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a JUI lawmaker, urged the pope not to take inspiration from US President George W. Bush.

“The pope is a respected personality not only for Christians but for Muslims also. He should not lower his stature by giving Bush-like statements,” he said.

“Jihad is a tool for defence and we expect the pope to speak against aggression,” he said.

“The pope’s statement is highly irresponsible,” senior scholar Javed Ahmed Ghamdi said.

“The concept of jihad is not to spread Islam with sword,” Mr Ghamdi said in a statement.

“The pope’s statement was an attempt to jeopardise a remarkable unity displayed by Christians and Muslims against recent Israeli aggression in Lebanon,” a spokesman for the Jamaat-i-Islami said.

SRINAGAR: Meanwhile, police in occupied Kashmir on Thursday seized newspapers carrying Pope Benedict’s statement.