US promoting India, using Pakistan: Former JI chief

CHARSADDA: The former chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain Ahmed, has accused the United States of promoting India in the region while using Pakistan merely as a tool to achieve its objectives in the name of 'war on terror.'

"The US has declared India as its strategic partner and did nothing for Pakistan despite its numerous sacrifices in the war on terror," The News quoted Ahmed, as saying, while addressing a gathering organised to distribute relief items among the flood victims given by the Sudanese government.

Noting that the US wanted to improve its economy by cementing its ties with India, Ahmed said that external interference must be stopped to establish peace in Afghanistan.

"The Afghan people will have an opportunity to look after their interest once the US forces withdraw from the war-torn county. Only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran can unite the Afghan people," he argued.

Coming down hard on the government, he alleged the US was staging drone attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan with tacit approval of the rulers. "Our rulers are hand in glove with the US on the drone attacks. Innocent tribesmen are being killed in such attacks," he remarked.