ISLAMABAD, June 30 (NNI): Afghan opposition commander Ahmed Shah Massoud has slammed the international community for indifferent attitude towards Afghanistan saying peace could not return to the war-shattered country until the world community stop ‘foreign intervention’.

"There is no doubt that the international community has forgotten Afghanistan since a very long time. It is a pity. Our wish is to see the international community give priority to the restoration of peace in our country," Massoud said.

He was talking to French members of Parliament, Jean-Michel Boucheron et Richard Cazenave, a member of the European Parliament (General Philippe Morillon), a Belgian Senator (Josy Dubié) and Bertrand Gallet who recently Mr. Massoud at Bozorak, in the Panjsheer Valley.

"Peace in Afghanistan will only be possible if the international community exercises pressure in order to stop [foreign] interference. I am sure that under international pressure, interference will discontinue," he said. He said it is only then that peace would be possible in Afghanistan. He said the main cause of this continuous war in Afghanistan is the foreign interference.

"As we have said and repeated many times, the Afghan conflict does not have a military solution. It would be better to find a solution through political negotiation," he said. He said he is ready to serve the people of Afghanistan, particularly in order to restore peace. "I will be ready to assume any duty at the service of my people".

Massoud said the behavior of the Taliban as well as their extremist attitudes do not correspond in any way with a tolerant Islam. "We have always been opposed to extremist tendencies of Islam and we still are. We have not stopped insisting on defending an Islam of tolerance, which would be profitable to every Muslim, in Afghanistan and in the whole world, and we will always defend it".

Asked about international concern over drug trafficking and terrorism in Afghanistan, he said, "we do not want to see Afghanistan become a base for terrorists. In an Afghanistan that we may guide, there will be no room for terrorists or for Osama Bin Laden".

Replying to a question about the possibility of democracy in Afghanistan Massoud said that he has always stressed the fact that the only solution for Afghanistan is democracy through elections. "Each individual must have the right to vote. The day we will be in Kabul, we will organize elections under the auspices of international organizations". He said women will have the right to vote, they will have the right to be elected, the right to work and study.