US must hold talks with Muslims for defining terrorism: Fazl

The Leader of Opposition, Fazalur Rehman on Sunday suggested to US authorities to hold dialogues with leaders of Muslim Ummah for correct and acceptable definition of terrorism.
"The Ummah is not ready to accept the American sponsored definition of terrorism. The US authorities have to sit around the table with the leadership of Muslim Ummah to re-define world terrorism," he said while talking with journalists here at his residence.
He said that Islam is a religion of peace, and teaches tolerance. "The international community has to take note of discrimination as the American Administration justifies Israel's aggression while saying that Jerusalem has the right to take defensive measures and feels free to name the Muslims if they take any step in self defence as terrorists," he said.
He stressed that the definition of world terrorism must be defined so that all nations should accept it.
The opposition leader in the National Assembly also criticised a report of the US Commission over the events of September 11, 2001. He said that the report was not based on real facts. "The report is not only ambiguous but is politically motivated."
Referring to the context of the report released by US authorities, he said, "According to the report there was no reason to invade Afghanistan and Iraq. Why the Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq were killed and why they were penalised? If US claim of democracy and free society has any truth then all those must be punished who are responsible for invading Afghanistan and Iraq."
He said that the report did not answer any of the questions raised after the events of September 11. "The ambiguous report has endorsed that the reservations of Muslim Ummah over the actions of the United States of America against the Muslims in the backdrop of the 9/11 were correct," he said.
He said that the so-called war against terrorism "is actually a war against the Muslims and the interests of the Ummah."
"Who will take the responsibility of killing millions of innocent Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq as the American report mentioned that there was no sound reason to invade both Islamic countries?" he said.
"Islam does not preach extremism or terrorism but simultaneously it does not stop any person, group or nation from struggling against aggressor."
Referring to the media report, Fazal suggested that the US "needs to develop better understating" with the Muslim Ummah.