The Hindu : MMA conveys its world view

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 24, 2002

International

International

MMA conveys its world view

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD OCT. 23. In what is seen as a diplomatic initiative to assure the world that it has nothing to worry on account of the emergence of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) as a third force in Pakistan, the alliance top brass briefed foreign envoys based here on their `world view' but it appears India was not impressed.

Among those who made a presentation to a group of foreign envoys, including the Charge d' Affairs of the Indian High Commission were Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Prime Ministerial candidate of the MMA, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, and a senior leader of the alliance, Khurshid Ahmed.

The top brass of the alliance sought to impress upon the diplomatic community that the MMA desired cordial ties with the whole world. They vowed to continue cooperation with the United States-led coalition in the war against terrorism, but emphasised the need to let Pakistan conduct the operations on its soil. The hint was about the reservation of the alliance to the U.S. bases in Pakistan.

Today's briefing was viewed with great interest, as the MMA is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting tomorrow to decide about its future course of action on government formation at the national-level. Indications are that the parties opposed to the Musharraf regime are willing to back the religious alliance.

A section of the Pakistan media has reported that the military regime is pinning high hopes on this meeting. The daily, The News, said that if the MMA leader successfully pleaded his case before his mighty critics, the military Government might ask the MMA to make an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam-i-Azam (PML-QA) to form a government at the Centre.

The paper quoted party sources as having said that Qazi Hussain Ahmad was approached by the military authorities with a request to meet diplomats and address their fears and apprehensions if the MMA was going to form governments in the provinces and become a part of any coalition at the Centre.

The Charge d' Affairs of the Indian High Commission, Sudhir Vyas, wanted the MMA leaders to elaborate their views on Kashmir policy specifically in the context of the January 12 address of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to the people of his country and the proceedings of the Cabinet meeting presided over by him on May 22.

On the response of the MMA leaders to Kashmir-related issues. Mr. Vyas said "we discern there is an attempt to back away from the commitments made by Pakistan to the international community.''

Seven injured in bomb explosion

At least seven persons were injured when a bomb exploded in a car at the crowded Bohar Bazzar in Rawalpindi town today.

The condition of two of the injured was stated to be critical. The bomb was planted in the front part of the car and according to the police the explosion was very powerful. It damaged four other vehicles.

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