SWABI, April 21: Ulema attending a Seerat conference here on Friday stressed importance of unity of Muslim countries and jihad against anti-Islam forces. The provincial general secretary of Jamaat-i-Islami, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad, accused the United States of conspiring to harm and weaken Muslim countries.

However, he said, Islamic movements were responding to the challenge and the Muslims appeared to be uniting against the US and its allies.

He said there could not be a permanent peace in the Middle East because the US was supporting the injustices of Israel which, he said, was the main source of trouble in the region.

MNA Muhammad Usman said that the US and its allies wanted to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power despite the fact Israel possessed all sorts of weapons of mass destruction. He called for a collective approach on issues which were harming the Muslims. “Once the Muslims unite, no one can defeat them,” he added.

Other speakers said the US policy of promoting secularism was a conspiracy against the Muslims. They said that the Muslim world was facing a critical situation. A war has been imposed on Iraq, Jews are occupying Palestine, India is suppressing Muslims in held Kashmir and the US has installed its own government in Afghanistan. However, they said, the Americans were now trapped in Iraq which could prove another Vietnam for them.