It is rather amusing to observe the shallow mentality that is pervasive among PAS leaders in their latest cry of 'jihad' against attacks on the Taliban regime of Afghanistan.

I wonder what made PAS leaders assume that an attack against the Taliban regime of Afghanistan is synonymous with an attack on Islam? This statement of theirs seems even more absurd when one observes the fact that the US is trying to reach out to Muslims worldwide and assuring them that the attacks are not against Islam or even the people of Afghanistan but against a corrupt, hypocritic regime that harbours one of the deadliest and violent terrorist organisations ever.

Furthermore, with nations such as Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, Pakistan and numerous other Islamic countries acknowledging the need for something to be done against terrorism, it makes one wonder what PAS' problem is.

The irony of it all is actually the nature of the Taliban. The Taliban is a brutal regime that has no qualms about killing innocent people of different ethnicities in the north of Afghanistan, severely abusing women and profiting from the production of opium while hiding behind the veil of a puritan Islamic state.

If PAS draws the conclusion that the Taliban regime is a fair representation of Islam, then they probably haven't done much homework and are probably shooting from the hip for political mileage.

If political mileage is not the case, then I am truly alarmed at the expansion of PAS' political base throughout the country. Perhaps all decent Malaysians who have so far been in support of PAS should pull the rug from under these zealots' legs to show them that we want to live in a civilised society that benefits from modernisation.

In addition to that, Keadilan should genuinely consider splitting from PAS and take the path of DAP; not only as a political benefit, but also to preserve Keadilan's dignity and its image as a party concerned with justice, equality and human rights.

A new Keadilan-DAP opposition coalition would be effective in the long run, especially so without the bogey of an ancient, tribal interpretation of an Islamic state hanging over their heads.

The Taliban were given slightly over three weeks to hand over Osama bin Laden, who perhaps wasn't directly involved in the attacks, but nevertheless served as the chief instigator and possibly financier behind these attacks. However, their stubbornness, hubris and extreme religious fervour has clouded their better judgment and they now pay the price for their lack of cooperation.

To all the Muslims of Malaysia, I urge you not to be taken in by the shallow ideas of PAS. Keep in mind that the attacks on the Taliban regime were not done indiscriminately.