December 28, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 29, 1429

LAKKI MARWAT, Dec 27: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) chief and chairman Kashmir Committee of the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman has ruled out the possibility of war between India and Pakistan.

The JUI-F chief said that tension did increase between both the countries in the wake of Mumbai carnage, but the two nuclear powers would never indulge into strikes against each other.

Talking to journalists of the area on Saturday in Katakhel village after attending wedding luncheon of his party worker Nazir Ahmad Farooqi, Fazl said war was not an option or solution to any problem, rather it would provide an opportunity to the United States and the Western powers to increase their influence in the region and materialise their policies.

Pakistan wants cordial relations with neighbours particularly India and it has no aggressive designs, he said, calling upon the Indian leaders not to let terrorists to shatter their commitment and determination towards the peace process and solution of problems through dialogue.

Responding to a question about troops’ deployment on the border by India, he said the Congress-led government was doing so to showing efficiency before its people and strengthen its political position in the coming elections.

“Contrary to complete solidarity expressed by all the political forces with the PPP-led government in Pakistan, he said the opposition parties in India developed serious differences with the government over tackling the situation arising from Mumbai attacks,” Fazl said, adding that India succeeded to build pressure on Pakistan due to its active diplomatic efforts.

He said that complete harmony among all the stakeholders of the present government and unanimous support by the political parties gave a message that the whole nation stood united and would render all sorts of sacrifices for protecting and defending the country. The JUI-F leader said, “Though our government endeavoured to defuse tension and bring normalcy in the region, but India never responded positively to our non-aggressive and cooperative attitude.” He maintained, “Our silence on US drone attacks had emboldened India to the extent that it was planning to carry out surgical strikes in Pakistan.”

The JUI-F chief said that US and Nato forces fighting against Taliban in Afghanistan could not dare to launch ground action in the tribal areas if Pakistan pulled out its troops from the western border.

He further called upon the government to pull out troops from the tribal areas and other districts of the Frontier province like Swat as it was not needed there. The JUI-F chief said the days had gone when polices were formulated and changed on a single telephone call, adding that National Assembly committee on security would compile its recommendations in its next meeting to bring changes in the war on terror, foreign, interior and defence policies.