ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: Federal minister for information and media development Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that there were strong indications of the United States initiating military action against Iraq in second week of March.

He said Pakistan was opposed to the persisting rigid US stand despite strong opposition by the world opinion especially the European people’s unanimous disapproval of war against Iraq.

Talking to newsmen on opening ceremony of website of a private news agency here on Monday Sheikh Rashid rebutted Indian president’s recent statement, accusing Pakistan of continued support to cross border terrorism.

Mr Ahmed said that Pakistan had become front line state in international war on terrorism and this position was appreciated by the United States and the world community. He said India was trying to malign Pakistan on flimsy grounds.

He said the resistance that France was showing against the US attack on Iraq was mainly due to its own economic interests in that country, for, a number of its oil companies were engaged in huge businesses there.

He assured the people particularly the religious leaders that Jamali government will not betray the popular sentiments of the people and will take into confidence all segments of the society including politicians before taking any decision on Iraq crisis.

The minister said Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali was holding meetings with political leaders to solicit their opinion and to take them in confidence before deciding its policy on Middle East situation.

He said Pakistan had neither committed its bases, air or logistic support to the US in her attack on Iraq.

Mr Ahmed dismissed as unfounded the fears that the government would change its Kashmir policy, adding that Kashmir was life line of Pakistan and neither Musharraf nor Jamali government were ready to take backward step.

He regretted that his statement with regard to postponement of prime minister’s visit to Tehran was misreported by a section of the press adding that the national press was not playing its due role in projecting the case of Kashmir.