SWABI, Nov 5: The United States will meet the same fate as did the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan and it has become clear that the Afghans are determined to drive out foreign occupation forces from their country, former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence Hamid Gul said here on Sunday.

Speaking at a ceremony at the Maddressah Taleemul Quran in Panjpir, he said the Afghan people had never accepted occupation of their country and they had laid down their lives for their country. He predicted that the Afghans would defeat the Americans.

He said the best option after withdrawal of the US forces would be to convene a milli jirga and prepare a plan for rebuilding and founding a prosperous independent Afghanistan.

He said the US planned to deprive Pakistan of its nuclear capability before leaving Afghanistan and it had been following various strategies for the purpose.

He said the US also wanted to weaken Pakistan army. He termed the continued war against the Muslims by the US and its allies the ‘second crusade’.

The great problem of the Muslims was that their rulers had been looking towards the US in all affairs, while the masses desired a true independent status and opposed the devouring of their resources by Washington, he said.

He said restoration of a true democratic order was necessary to reduce US influence over the country’s domestic and foreign policies.

He said the political parties were also in disarray.

Chief of Ashat Wa Tauheed Wal Sunnah Maulana Tayyab said that MMA leaders were supporting President Pervez Musharraf and deceiving people by holding protest demonstrations.