PESHAWAR, Oct 13: Recognizing the US stand on terrorism in the wake of Sept 11 attacks and subsequent air strikes on Afghanistan, ANP leader Wali Khan on Saturday urged the world community to help rebuild the war-ravaged country after fulfilment of its objectives.

“Don’t repeat the mistake you did in the past after Russia left Afghanistan,” said Wali Khan while calling upon the USA and world community not to leave Afghanistan at the mercy of regional powers after achieving its objectives.

“I am hopeful that if the world spent funds equal to its one-day’s expenses during the current war, it would turn Afghanistan into a small beautiful country,” said the veteran leader flanked by Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali, Begum Nasim Wali, Haji Mohammed Adeel and Azam Khan Hoti, recently released on bail by the Lahore High Court.

Making appearance at the ANP’s provincial general council’s meeting after a long time, Wali Khan said that Islam is a religion of peace hence attacks on civilians and killing of innocent people cannot be described as any thing other than terrorism.

“This is not a holly war, this is absolutely terrorism,” said the Pashtoon leader while distancing his party from the Pashtoon-dominated Taliban regime.

Wali Khan, who was helped by two leaders to walk in to take his seat on the stage, said the Taliban were not a legitimate government, they had come to power by dint of guns and not through elections, hence it had no legitimate right to govern the people of Afghanistan by portraying it as the representatives of all the Afghans and Pashtoons.

The US had all the rights to ask for handing over Osama who had been misusing the soil of Afghanistan for fulfilment of his designs, said Wali Khan.

“Being a guest in Afghanistan, Osama has no right to use its soil for the fulfilment of his designs, and for this he should go back to his own country,” said Wali Khan, adding it was because of Osama’s misdeeds that Afghan Ulema had requested him to leave their country.

Taking exception to extremist elements in Pakistan, Wali Khan said they were trying to give a religious colour to a purely political matter.

In Pashtoon social structure, said Wali Khan, Mulla had a specific limited role whereas the worldly matters were to be dealt by the Hujra [traditional place of males’ gathering in Pashtoon society].

“Worldly matters cannot be left to Mulla, earlier they had legitimized the killing of Hindu and Sikh, later after the creation of Pakistan they legitimized killing of Qadyanis and Shias,” Wali Khan recalled.

About the post-Taliban arrangement in Kabul, he said the world community should not try to impose any setup from out side. Rather, it should be left to the people of Afghanistan to decide on their own. Afghanistan had its way, traditions and culture of settling its issues through Loya Jirga, he said.