Rashid asks Muslim world to unite

MECCA: Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the information minister, on Tuesday called upon the Muslim world to unite and meet the challenges that were facing it.

“Only unity and solidarity in our ranks can help us fight the challenges facing the Muslim world,” the minister said, addressing Pakistani expatriates and reporters in Saudi Arabia at an iftar he was hosting.

The minister said Pakistan was making “meaningful efforts” to ensure peace in South Asia. He said the Kashmir conflict should be resolved according to the will of the Kashmiri people.

Rashid said President Pervez Musharraf had merely suggested possibilities for resolving the conflict and that “Pakistan will not accept any solution to Kashmir issue on the basis of the Line of Control”.

He said there was no pressure on Kahsmiri leaders to stop dialogue with the Indian government. “We understand that all matters including the Kashmir issue should be discussed,” he said.

Rashid said President Musharraf always acted for Pakistan’s interests and was not a pawn to the US government. “Pakistan is a sovereign country and its leaders are patriotic,” he said. Rashid said modernising education would help solving the Muslim world’s problems. He also said that Muslim channels should be launched that would promote a positive image of Muslims across the globe. app

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