US accused of interference

Published February 7, 2003

SWABI, Feb 6: Former Awami National Party (ANP) president Asfandyar Wali Khan on Thursday alleged that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is under immense influence of Americans, and it would not take any action against Washington’s interest.

Speaking to local newsmen, he said that the United States (US) was very much involved in the politics of the country and was using various tactics to achieve its objective in this volatile South Asian region.

The US, he said, had failed in achieving its objectives in the war-ravaged Afghanistan, despite using its all military options and power. But he did not explain about the objectives and US army’s stay in the war-ravaged country.

About the US policy on the emergence of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), he said that Washington wanted to give the religious parties powers to defame themselves.

Kashmir was a problem for Punjab, it was not an issue for Balochistan and the NWFP, he said, adding that Walibagh leaders wanted solution of all issues between India and Pakistan through peaceful means.

Castigating the MMA leadership, he said that the religious parties were not interested in the Islamization of the province.

He said that during the negotiations with the PML-Q for the formation of a government, the religious leaders had demanded premiership for Maulana Fazalur Rehman and not the Islamization, which, he said, unveiled their real motives.