Friday, October 28 2005 17:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan's main Islamic alliance has criticised the involvement of US and NATO forces in quake relief work, saying the country has enough soldiers to deal with the situation.

"American and NATO forces should not be allowed to enter Pakistan under the pretext of relief activities", Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Secretary General of the alliance of six Islamic groups Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), said.

"Western countries plan to send their troops to Pakistan under the excuse of al-Qaeda", the opposition leader alleged.

NATO announced this week that it would send 1000 troops and a small number of helicopters to Pakistan to take part in relief activities in quake-affected areas.

"The entire Pakistani nation is concerned over US and NATO plan to send troops. Pakistan has enough soldiers to deal with the situation", Rehman said.

"The government should send these forces back", he insisted and urged the government to accept only foreign experts.

Lashing out at Western nations for their opposition to Islamic groups, he said religious groups played an active role in the earthquake-hit areas.

The MMA leader also criticized the government for failing to consult opposition parties and the parliament on the relief operations. "The Government is harming national solidarity while adopting step-mother behaviour towards the opposition parties", he said.

Meanwhile, former Cricketer and Chairman Tehrik Insaf (Justice Party) Imran Khan told reporters here, "there is no need to deploy NATO troops in the country. Rather they should only provide helicopters and resources".