Lashkar, Jihad Council criticise U.S.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 4. The Lashkar-e-Taiba and the United Jihad Council, umbrella organisation of Pakistan-based militant outfits, have said that the decision of the United States to designate Lashkar and Jaish- e-Mohammad as ``foreign terrorist organisation'' as biased.

In separate statements, the UJC and Hizb-ul Mujahideen chief, Syed Salahuddin, and the Lashkar head, Prof. Hafeez Mohammad Sayeed, said such actions would only boost `jehadi forces'.

A special meeting of the UJC presided over by Syed Salahuddin at Muzarrafabad, capital of Pak.-Occupied Kashmir, urged the Pakistan Government to reject outright such an `outlandish allegation'. Neither the Lashkar nor the Jaish is members of the UJC. The UJC said such tactics would not deter jihadi forces. These would work as ``morale boosters for the forces to fight vigorously for the cause of getting Muslims freedom from the oppressive forces''.

The council called upon the Government to reject the baseless ban and support fully the jihadi organisations in their fight for justice for the oppressed Muslims.

In a separate statement, the Lashkar chief said the organisation would not be cowed down by any restriction. Addressing a congregation, he said U.S. action would create new spirit and enthusiasm among mujahideen (holy warriors).

Addressing a jihadi conference at Buraj Dara, a village near Hafizabad, on Saturday evening, he said mujahideen did not care for any U.S. embargo on the Lashkar-e-Taiba or other jihadi organisation. ``It would increase the spirit and enthusiasm among mujahideen to intensify jihad against infidels.''

He told the gathering that Pakistan was playing a leading role among the Muslim countries. The Jewish lobby feared Pakistan's nuclear capability because it was a Muslim country. ``They want to spread fear of Pakistan's nuclear capability so that they could destroy the nuclear installations of the country''.

In another development, a resolution adopted by a group of leaders from Pak.-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) here have said that `armed freedom struggle' in Kashmir could in no way be termed as terrorism.

The leaders who met here at a conference organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, Mr. Amanullah Khan, maintained that there was a need to differentiate between `freedom struggle and terrorism'.

The meet was called to take stock of the current situation arising out of the September 11 incidents and the war in Afghanistan and likely impact on Kashmir. It was decided to discuss the matter with those who could or did not attend today's meeting and to evolve concrete proposals on Kashmir.

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Section  : International
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