OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE JI chief, Syed Munawar Hasan has claimed that a foreign policy aiming at protecting the US interests could not safeguard countrys sovereignty and independence. Addressing the Friday congregation at Mansoora mosque, he said that the presence of US and NATO forces in the region was the root cause of all problems and peace could not be restored as long as these forces remained in the area. He said that the US announcement to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by 2014 was only to mislead the world. JI chief appreciated the Turkish Conference resolve to restore peace in Afghanistan through an end to terrorism and arms cleansing. However, he added that peace could not return to Afghanistan without the exit of US and NATO troops. Munawar said that the rulers were giving different reasons for granting Most Favoured Nation status to India to deceive the masses, however the decision was equaling sprinkling salt on the wounds of the Kashmiri people. He maintained that the drama of trade with India had been staged to provide India a permit to enter Afghanistan under the US pressure, Washington wanted to establish Indias supremacy in the region to curtail Chinas increasing role in the region. JI chief demanded that wealth of politicians and others amassed from illegal practices lying in Swiss banks should be brought back to stabilize the countrys economy. He stressed the need for complete unity and harmony among patriotic political and religious forces in the country to counter US conspiracies.