LAHORE, April 19: Rulers of Islamic countries should learn a lesson from the fall of Saddam and strengthen their defence by normalizing relations with their neighbours and winning the confidence of their people.

This was the consensus of opinion at a panel discussion on Iraq war and global peace, held during the third National Convention of the Pakistan Liberal Forum here on Saturday.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Kunwar Khalid Younas said that Iraq did not have good relations with its neighbours. It had waged a war against Iran and Kuwait and Saddam had blindly followed the American policies. Many countries had more tyrannical regimes than that of Saddam but Iraq had been punished for firing Scud missiles against Israel.

He said that Pakistan would have to resolve its difference with its neighbours and remain vigilant like Korea for protecting its sovereignity. He said that Pakistan should also get rid of the ‘jihadi culture’ as it had given nothing to it.

He said that the war in Iraq was motivated by interest for share in Iraqi oil but the Urdu media had misrepresented it by describing it as a war between Islam and kufr.

It had also continued misreporting the events on the pattern of the Fall of Dhaka in 1971.

The Senate had adopted a mild resolution against the invasion of Iraq which had been moved very late.

PPP leader and former Senator Iqbal Haider said that worldwide condemnation of the adventure of US President Bush without any religious prejudice was a positive effect of the Iraq war.

He said that the US had created Saddam, Osama and Mulla Omar and disposed them of after they had served its interests.

He said that no alliance in the world had been formed on religious basis.

Interests of the member countries formed the basis of alliances like the European Union and the Arab League.