KARACHI, Jan 25: There is a consensus among Ulema and US representatives on the need for continuation of dialogue between them to dispel misgivings and suspicions against each other.

This understanding was reached among them when an American delegation, led by US consul general Douglas Rohn, held their first direct contact with the Ulema at Darul Uloom Naimia in F.B. Area where Ulema expressed concern over the policies being pursued by the US during last two decades.

Mufti Muneebur Rehman, who led the Ulema team during the meeting, told Dawn that the Ulema explained their point of view and reservations on US policies being pursued, particularly its double standards, vis-à-vis Muslim and other countries.

In reply to a question, Mufti Muneebur Rehman said that the US consul general was accompanied by Larry Schuartz, director, South Asian Bureau in the State Department and Mr Mex Moser, Officer Public Affairs at the Consulate while the Ulema included Maulana Dastgir Afghani, Mufti Rafiq-ul-Hasan, Maulana Jameel Ahmad Naimi, Mufti Athar Naimi, Maulana Mohammad Abid Quaderi, Maulana Abdul Karim Attari and others.

"We also informed the delegation that their talks with the government in Pakistan are also going on for confidence-building measures and the government also made an offer for extending financial assistance to the religious institutions, but they had made it clear to the government that it would have to accept, in principle, the degrees issued by religious institutions.

He said that the visit of the US delegation was a follow-up of a meeting held in a hotel on Dec 16 which was aimed at reaching an understanding on each others' problems. Mufti Muneeb said they had invited the US delegation so that they could have a clear perception about the religious institutions.

The delegation, after the meeting, was taken to various sections of the madressah, where students, besides religious course, were being imparted education of mathematics, general science and computer.

The delegation was informed that the seminaries were providing facilities of modern education, along with the religion to poor students which were not available in any government institution to poor.

The delegation appreciated the performance of the seminary. To another question, he said that the Ulema were also signatory to the declaration of the world religious moot in Norway and Islamabad which called upon all religions of the world to come forward and play their role in promotion of peace and justice.