LONDON: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has described Islamophobia as the biggest hurdle in combating terrorism.

People indulging in Islamophobia insult the sacrifices rendered by thousands of Muslims across the world in the struggle against terrorism, according to the minister.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said it was heartening to note that at the recent summit in Washington on Countering Violent Extremism nobody sought to link Islam with terrorism.

US President Barack Obama delivered a “very courageous speech” at the summit, Mr Khan said.

The conference was a disappointment for the elements trying to link Islam with terrorism. The economies of Muslim countries have had to endure immense losses in the fight against terrorism.

He said that extremists were trying to create divisions on religious lines and certain elements were busy in highlighting these rifts.

Pakistan had lost 50,000 of its citizens in terrorist attacks, 99 per cent of whom were Muslims, the minister said. “You cannot call it Islamic terrorism when mainly Muslims are the victims,” he remarked.

Only a section of the western society had been criticising Islam and Islamic personalities.

Mr Khan said he had pointed out at the conference that the West must do more to address the attacks on Muslims and their religious beliefs. “It’s a defining moment in the fight against terrorism and extremism.”

He said uniformity of views both at the regional and international levels was required to deal effectively with terrorists.

He was satisfied, he said, that for the “first time an understanding of the viewpoint of Muslim countries had emerged at a summit, which was evident from the resolution adopted by it”.

Pakistan was considering holding a regional summit in this regard, the minister said.

He said he had held several important meetings during his visits to the US and UK.

There had been misgivings in relations between the US and Pakistan in the past, Mr Khan said and added that Washington should look at its relationship with Islamabad not in terms of dollars and cents but view it with respect whether or not it agreed with it.

“I told US officials that United States pumped in more than $10 billion during the Musharraf regime but the US was the most unpopular country in Pakistan. At that time it was fashionable to be anti-American,” Mr Khan added.

During his meeting with British National Security Adviser, Sir Kim Darroch, Mr Khan said the West should take to task all the elements involved in targeting and insulting Islam.

He shared with the British official Pakistan’s strategy aimed at defeating extremism and terrorism.

He underscored the United Kingdom’s important role in bringing East and West together in the fight against extremism.

Commending Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism, Sir Darroch assured the minister of his government’s continued cooperation.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2015

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