ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider said on Tuesday that the government had adopted a policy to stop the activists of religious parties from entering Afghanistan and taking part in the war along side the Taliban.

Talking to newsmen after balloting of plots for Modern Urban Shelter Programme of the Capital Development Authority here at Kutcha Abadi Muslim Colony, the minister said the government was not allowing people to go for Jihad as these people could do nothing against the US airstrikes.

“Can these Jihadis harm the US fighter planes dropping bombs from the height of 30,000 feet with their revolvers and guns,” he asked.

Responding to a question, he said the government had sealed border with Afghanistan and now the Jihadis were not being allowed to proceed.

To a query, Mr Haider refuted the claims of religious parties that the government had made a deal on the nuclear programme, stating that the programme was in the safe hands.

He said the government had so far given two of its bases to the US forces for rescue and search operation. He said that no combat action was being launched against Afghanistan from these bases. “The US armed forces could launch the same operation from the Arabian Sea even if they had not been given bases by the Pakistani government,” he said.

Responding to a question about the call given by Jamat-i-Islami for wheel-jam strike on Nov 9, he said those who tried to take law in their hands would be dealt with accordingly.

He urged the transporters, traders and people not to take part in any strike as it could adverse affect economy of the country.

“We realise that property was being destroyed in Afghanistan and bombs were killing civilians that was why President Gen Pervez Musharraf had condemned the attacks on civilians at international level. But why people in Pakistan are trying to damage state’s property by staging demonstrations and misleading the innocent people of the country,” he said.

“Following the announcement of wheel-jam strike call, I contacted JI Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmed by telephone, suggesting him to avoid misleading the nation and not to get involved in activities harmful to the interests of the country,” he added.

The minister said that the JI chief had tried to mislead the nation and under similar charges a case had been registered against him before his house arrest.

The military government, he said, had given complete freedom to the press and every segment of society but no one would be allowed to create a law and order situation.