By RINA
New Delhi: The New Delhi US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Peter Burleigh and Cultural Counselor Michael P. Macy yesterday visited the headquarters of the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind in the National Capital. This is the first high profile visit by the American officials after the change of guards both in United States of America as well as India.
The American officials discussed with the leaders of JUH various issues including the America’s new strategy to reach out to the Muslims and the Islamic world.
The discussions mainly focused on Islam, desecration of the Holy Quran, Prisoners in the Guantanamo Bay, Deoabandi School of Thought, Israel-Palestine conflict, Afghanistan, Iraq, terrorism and targeting of Muslims in the name of terrorism. Maulana Mahmood Madani made a strong case for Deobandi school of thought and stressed that there are some vested interests who are trying to present a wrong image of it by indulging into false propaganda leading to a sort of extremist perception about it although Deoband is a school of peace and moderation. In the present international scenario peace, Islam and Deoband are three hot topics that need to be tackled cautiously and sensitively.
Maulana Mahmood Madani drew the visiting officials’ attention to the volatile political situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan and remarked that the war on terror initiated by the United States of America against a particular group (read Taliban) has now spread to the civilian population of the country. Maulana Mahmood Madani told the US officials that with the inauguration of the office of President Barack Hussain Obama it is hoped that he will reverse the policies of his predecessor and bring about a paradigm shift in the policy towards Muslims and Islam. The visiting officials assured the Jamiat leaders of all possible steps to redress their concerns.