PAS' call for Muslims to launch a jihad against the US and also for the Malaysian government to provide military assistance to the Taliban underscores PAS' support for the Taliban regime to defend itself against the ongoing American and British attacks.

PAS has exhorted young Malaysian Muslims to engage in a holy war with a promise of going to heaven in case they die, a major motivation to some Muslims. PAS should instead focus its efforts to send doctors and aid workers with food and medicine (like the Red Cross) to the millions of Afghan refugees who have no need for more fighters.

Afghanistan has experienced 22 years of war which brought great misery, massive destruction, widespread disease and starvation since the Soviet invasion in 1979. Afghans of all tribes want peace and stability and to rebuild their shattered lives.

The current situation in Afghanistan is not due to past US policies in Afghanistan which provided financial and military support to the mujahidin fighting against the Soviet occupation which ended in 1989.

The mujahidin then fought a civil war with atrocities committed by various factions and ultimately the Taliban gained power in 1996. Where was the voice of PAS and the world's Muslims during these wars in which the Muslims killed and inflicted suffering upon other Muslims, including innocent victims?

PAS has to ask itself what Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda organisation are doing in Afghanistan. Osama is no longer fighting foreign non-Muslim invasion but is actively exporting terror to other countries.

Any country which has experienced the massive scale of destruction during the Sept 11 attacks would agree that the US must prevent or at least reduce further terrorist attacks by attacking the training camps and the host regime with unfortunate loss of civilian lives. You cannot reason or negotiate with terrorists who do not respect human lives or humanity.

Islam is about love, compassion, tolerance and respect for all people. Let's not divide the world into Muslims and infidels by promoting war and hatred. The world is too small and life is too short. Let's make this world a safe and wonderful place for our children and their children by joining the war against terrorists. Don't let terrorism become a permanent feature of our cities and countrysides to the point that we live in constant fear of death and destruction.

It is frightening to note that the Sept 11 attack on the US was not carried out by long-suffering refugees from Palestine or Afghanistan. Some of these alleged perpetrators appear to be middle class, educated, sophisticated and committed individuals who have been brainwashed in the terrorist training camps to hate and kill Americans and other 'white' people. Whatever the root cause of terrorism, it should never be allowed to prevail.