Musharraf, S-Arabian authorities discussed challenges faced by Ummah: Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has termed as very successful president Gen Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Saudi Arabia, saying the President discussed in detail with the Saudi authorities the regional and international issues and challenges especially the ones confronting Muslim Ummah.

In a talk with a private TV channel, the minister who also accompanied the president in his Saudi Arabia tour for performing Umrah, said President Gen Musharraf held important meetings with King Shah Fahad bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Princess Abdullah during which war against global terror, ongoing talk process between Pakistan and India, situation in Middle East and Iraq came under discussion.

Also, the minister said the leaders from the two sides also deliberated way and means for boosting prevalent trade and economic Pakistan-Saudi ties besides increasing the volume of Saudi investment in Pakistan in the days to come.

In reply to a query about revitalizing OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) forum, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said there was complete unanimity of views between Pakistan and Saudi leaders on the issue. During the meeting, the need for rejuvenating the biggest platform of the Islamic world was also highlighted, he said.

The information minister said for invigorating OIC, an important meeting of the foreign ministers of the forum member states is being held in the Turkish capital of Istanbul soon. “The foreign ministerial moot will be presented with a well-chalked out future plan for the OIC to grapple with efficiently the issues and challenges Islamic world is confronting these days”, he informed.

On the Pakistani cooperation against global terror, the minister said the Saudi crown princess was all praise for president Gen Musharraf’s standpoint against the terrorism menace.

“Princess Abdullah was of the view that the terrorist under the garb of religion are inviting irreparable loss to interests of the Islamic world”, he said adding that a considerable segment of the world of today, now, has a negative opinion about Islam.

The two leaders emphasised that a joint efforts must be carried out to communicating the world the real message of peace and tolerance rendered by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), thus, winning a favourable niche for Muslims amongst other communities.

He declined to comment on as to what joint strategy the two countries have in their minds against terrorism, saying, “it’s quite premature to tell something about it and everything will be quite clear in the days to come”.

Responding to yet another query about ongoing military operation against terrorist in Afghan-bordering Waziristan area, the minister said the crackdown is not against inhabitants of the tribal area, however, it’s an attempt to bring the terrorist elements hiding there, to task.

He urged the foreign terrorist elements to surrender or return to their countries.

On the Quetta carnage, which left more than 45 Shiite mourners dead on the Ashura day in Quetta last week, Shiekh Rashid said the investigations in the gruesome incident are underway, assuring, “the culpable elements will be handed in heavy punishments”.