ISLAMABAD, April 28: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the MMA’s secretary-general, has warned of India’s spreading political and military influence in Afghanistan, saying this could create problems for Islamabad.

In a Dawn Dialogue interview, the Maulana, who is also chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, said problems could arise with the expiry of the Durand Line agreement.

On national issues, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said even if there was no agreement between the opposition and the government, the president would not be able to dissolve the assemblies because he was not popular among the people.

He said the MMA rejected Gen Pervez Musharraf’s military presidency, and would accept him only as an elected civilian president. It also rejected the president’s assumption of prime minister’s discretionary powers, and the National Security Council, but would agree to the new local government system if it was given to the provinces.

The MMA leader, whose alliance rules in the NWFP and is a ruling coalition partner in Balochistan, threatened the use of street power if President Musharraf dissolved the assemblies.

He said the MMA would like to continue traditional ties with the western world, but wanted the US military and intelligence personnel, now here in connection with the military operation in Afghanistan, to leave Pakistan.