Saturday, October 3, 2009

Elements conspiring against Pakhtuns: Bilour

PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour Saturday said that some elements were out to hatch conspiracy against Pakhtuns.

Addressing a seminar on ‘The Terrorism-affected Pakhtunkhwa and International Responsibilities’ at the Peshawar Press Club, he said that the disintegration of the Soviet Union led to the massacre of Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Had the USSR not disintegrated there would have been no US aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

He said that the Americans used some Pakhtuns and extended its ‘war on terror’ into Pakistan, which inflicted colossal loss on the Pakhtuns as a nation. Pakhtuns were the real sufferers after the 9/11, he said and added: “Today the whole Pakhtun belt is affected by terrorism, which very adversely affected its economy.”

He said that the war against Pakhtuns was started back in 1979 when religio-political parties recruited 2.5 million Pakhtuns to fight against Soviet forces in Afghanistan and most of them were killed.

He said that “our policy on Afghanistan annoyed our neighbours including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and India.” He added that instead of nurturing the dream to conquer Kabul, Mascow and Delhi, Pakistan should concentrate on bringing industrial and educational revolution in the country.

He said that he was ready to die if his death could bring peace and tranquility to the Pakhtun land.

Abdullah Sani, advocate, said that there would be no peace in the country in the absence of rule of law and equality, adding that we would have to end the sense of deprivation among the masses.

Peace Foundation chief Maqsood Ahmad said that after 9/11 Muslims were linked to the terrorism and the civil society organisations should make efforts to dispel this impression.

Saleem Afaqi of the Abaseen Column Writers Association said that both national and international forces were behind the conspiracy hatched against Pakhtun nation.

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