ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz on Sunday praised Pakistani leadership’s efforts for resolving the Kashmir issue through peaceful means and saving the country from the destruction of war.

Addressing a civic reception, the Crown Prince hoped that the Palestinian issue would also be resolved through peaceful means.

He said a handful of “terrorist criminals” had spoiled relations between Muslims and the rest of the world, and time had come to uproot extremism from Muslim societies.

Islam is a religion of tolerance and love, said Prince Abdullah, adding Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) maintained good relations with non-Muslims in Madina and entered into agreement with them.

The Crown Prince said that Islamic society cannot flourish with winds of hatred and disunity blowing across its lands, and added that Islam being the religion of moderation, had no place for those who were spreading hatred.

He said Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) lived with hypocrites in Madina but never tried to look beyond what they declared, and believed their statements.

Describing those who shed blood of the innocent in the name of Islam as misguided people and liars, the Crown Prince pointed out that our forefathers always gave preference to dialogue for settlement of disputes, and never forced anybody to embrace Islam.

Jihad, Prince Abdullah said, was only permissible in the case of aggression and added that moderation needed to be encouraged so that Islamic societies could gain strength.

He said a handful of terrorists had painted an ugly picture of Islam. “We need to confront this small group and must establish our relations with the rest of the world. God has divided the people into different races and tribes, not for cutting each others’ throats, but to recognize each other.”

Those who were inciting Muslims to hate the non-Muslims were, in fact, inviting destruction and deprivation for Muslims, he maintained.

The Crown Prince said a Muslim was not destined to live in caves and secret dens of terrorism, but had to be on the frontlines for projecting Islamic culture.

He said Muslims, who were described by Allah as the best Ummah, must present themselves as a model for others. Rejecting war, he said Muslims must knock at every door for the solution of their problems through peaceful means.

The Crown Prince ended his speech with the slogan of Pakistan Zindabad.

APP adds: The crown prince left on Sunday after a two-day visit to Pakistan.