Maulana Fazlur Rehman calls on Prime Miniser

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today agreed with Pakistan Opposition Leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman's suggestion to evolve a joint strategy by South Asian countries to counter the influence of foreign powers in the region.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who called on the Prime Minister to discuss the political and security situation in the region, said Dr Singh showed keen interest in evolving a strategy to enable the countries of the region to utilise natural resources for the benefit of the people.

The Maulana who is currently here to participate in the international seminar on Islamic scholar Maulana Asad Madani, was interacting with a group of journalists at the residence of senior Congress leader Autar Singh Bhadana.

The meeting which lasted about an hour, was also attended by Chief Minister of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Akram Durrani and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani.

The Pakistani Opposition leader also urged the Prime Minister to take steps for resolution of he Kashmir issue as well as other bilateral problems.

''We have to resolve the issue bilaterally and amicably and not allow the situation to deteriorate and go out of hand which would give foreign powers a free hand to meddle in our affairs,'' he said.

He said the situation in Afghanistan also came up for extensive discussion.

If the situation did not stabilise there, it would have adverse impact on both India and Pakistan.

The present situation is far from normal in Afghanisan and India and Pakistan should work together to stabilise his volatile counry.

If both India and Pakistan fight and work on cross-purposes, it would benefit foreign powers who intended to say there for long.

The Maulana reiterated his stand that Taliban should join mainstream politics and give up gun, as wihout their paricipaion, it would be difficult to bring about normalcy in the region.

In fact, the Afghan Parliament and the President had also expressed willingness to involve Taliban in the democratic process but some forces were inimical to this idea.

Pandit N K Sharma, who was political advisor to former Prime Minister P V Narasima Rao, also had a meeting with the Maulana.

UNI