Thursday, May 19 2005 22:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today (May 19, 2005) slammed the decree issued by Pakistani Muslim clerics declaring suicide attacks as "unIslamic" but keeping Kashmir out of its purview.

"This is a living example of how terrorism in Kashmir is being encouraged from Pakistani soil. Such fatwas (decrees) and the manner in which a Pakistani minister has supported it has cast doubts on Islamabad's policies towards cross-border terrorism," Naqvi, who returned from a week-long visit to Pakistan, said in a statement in New Delhi.

He said such "mindset" would hinder efforts to normalise relations between the two countries though the common man in Pakistan favoured better ties and appeared not to support terrorist activities across the border.

"The provision in the fatwa that it would not be applicable to Kashmir is ample proof of the links the suicide squad members have with Pakistan because the decrees of that country are nor applicable on Indian Muslims," the BJP vice-president said.

He regretted that the said 'fatwa' spoke of preventing the killings of Muslims rather than "innocent human beings".

Muslim clerics in Pakistan had on Tuesday (May 17, 2005) issued a decree declaring as "unIslamic" suicide attacks in public places in an Islamic country but kept Kashmir out of its purview.

The clerics, who gathered in Lahore, said those who believe that suicide attacks are meant to earn blessings would be considered out of Islam.