LAHORE, Jan 28: Egypt, Jordan and Syria have expressed a unanimity of views with Pakistan and assured full support against possible Indian aggression, Dr Tahirul Qadri, the Pakistan Awami Tehrik chairman, told a press conference here on Monday on his return from an official tour of the countries.

Dr Qadri and Minister for Kashmir Affairs Abbas Sarfraz had been sent to project Pakistan’s point of view in its standoff with India. Mr Qadri said leaders of the three countries were concerned over the India-Israel nexus. He said they had noted that the two states had nothing on common except a wish to destroy Pakistan’s nuclear installations.

The Arab leaders, Dr Qadri claimed, had praised the stand taken by President Gen Pervez Musharraf after the Sept 11 attacks in United States. The leaders, he said, had agreed to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in the field of information technology. He said the Syrian leader had already issued orders to the authorities concerned in this respect.

He said the Arab leaders had regretted that the Organization of Islamic Conference had failed to play an effective role, but agreed that it could still contribute by help develop a common market. King Abdullah of Jordan, Dr Qadri said, had offered to help with reform of seminaries in Pakistan through an exchange of ulema.

Answering questions by newsmen, Dr Qadri praised the government’s decision to send politicians to different countries to project Pakistan’s point of view. He agreed with a questioner that extremism and ‘a jihadi mentality’ had harmed the country. China, he said, had advised Pakistan avoid war for at least 25 years.