HYDERABAD, Oct 26: The chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (SB) Ms Ghinwa Bhutto has said that a broad-based government could not be installed in Afghanistan at gunpoint and added that democracy was under threat in America following September 11 terrorist attacks in Washington and New York.

She was talking to newsmen here on Friday at the residence of Irfan Kalhoro where she offered condolence on the death of his mother.

Ms Bhutto said that Musharraf government should have consulted our neighbours before deciding to go on board with the US in its campaign against terrorism.

She predicted that the prevailing crisis would change world situation as the United States was poised to make more laws not only for its own citizens but also for the rest of the world.

She asked whether America was sure that its current war against Afghanistan would put an end to terrorism.

Ms Ghinwa Bhutto said that Osama and the Taliban were declared rogues but no one tried to ascertain how they assumed this role.

Referring to the differences of Osama with Saudi government, she said that Osama was the product of difference of opinion of the masses with the Saudi government over the deployment of US forces in the holy land.

She pointed out that whenever the masses did not agree with their government’s policies, people like Osama raised their heads.

Tracing history of Taliban, she said that the attitude of the world towards them was uncalled for. “We failed to bring them in the mainstream”, she recalled.

She opined that recent air and ground attacks in Afghanistan by USA and its allied forces would strengthen the resolve, determination and faith of the Taliban and people of Afghanistan.

The Lebanon-born leader said that only a process of engagement and discussion would lead to the elimination of terrorist activities from the world.

She apprehended that present situation endangered democracy in America and it was also bound to affect developed countries.

Reverting to the Taliban she said that if the people of Afghanistan were happy with the Taliban why should anyone poke nose into their affairs. “And if Afghan people do not like the Taliban then we should first create peaceful atmosphere there to ascertain their views,” she emphasised.

“When the world keeps pumping weapons rather than aid in Afghanistan how could we expect that there would be peace there,” she asked.

She however stressed that there should be no more interference of Pakistan in Afghanistan in future.

About a broad-based and friendly government in Afghanistan, she said that every country needed a friendly neighbour but no one could expect a friendly government at gunpoint.

Responding to a question about elections in the country next year, she said that democracy would strengthen the position of Pakistan in world politics.

“If we have an elected government in the country, its decision at any crucial moment would be considered people’s verdict,” she said.

She disagreed that the Afghan war was a clash between infidels and Muslim or Christians and Muslim and added that it was a war for power.

On the sanctions lifted by USA, she said that this was meaningless, for US kept on thrusting its decision over us.

The PIA flights had been disallowed in various countries, badly affecting the business of the airline”, she said in a bitter tone.

About law and order situation, the PPP-SB leader said that it had become worse because we were killing our own people and if the American strikes were not stopped, the situation in our own country would also take an ugly turn.