KARACHI, Nov 20: A meeting of the Pak-Afghan Defence Council will be held soon to review the situation in Afghanistan and a future strategy would be evolved in the light of the evolving situation.

This was decided at a meeting between Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan chief Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani and acting Amir and secretary general of Jamaat-i-Islami, Syed Munawar Hussain, here on Tuesday.

The JI leader, who called on Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani at the latter’s residence, also delivered a message of Qazi Hussain Ahmed.

Later, talking to newsmen, Maulana Noorani said the government’s foreign policy had completely failed and maintained that the situation in which the people of Afghanistan find themselves today was a result of the betrayal by the government of Pakistan at the behest of the United States.

He said the green card-holder officials in the Foreign Office and the Interior Ministry were responsible for such a sell-out, which has endangered Pakistan’s own existence.

He deplored the arrests of religious party leaders and demanded their release. He was of the view that such actions of the government would plunge the country into a vicious cycle of anarchy.

Maulana Noorani said the Taliban had restored peace in Afghanistan and had embarked upon a policy of making Islam the way of life. But the United States and its allies turned the war ravaged country into a graveyard during the five weeks of indiscriminate bombings.

He said the religious parties were opposed to the US polices and they remained firm in their resolve. He also termed the American promise of relief in debts etc as misleading and said believing in them was tantamount to living in a fools’ paradise.

Acting chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Syed Munawar Hussain said Gen Musharraf’s government was more keen to protect the US interests rather than that of Pakistan.

He believed that despite the government’s claim, pro-India administrations has taken over in Kabul, which is a threat to Pakistan.

He said the regime has lost confidence of the masses and called upon the government to rethink about its posture and immediately usher in an interim government.