KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday that the government will not stop PAS supporters from going to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban against the United States attacks.

Equally, the government would not support their action, he told reporters after opening the second Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Tourism Ministers Meeting here.

"If they think they want to go, they can go but we are not stopping them but we are not backing them...I think they are wasting their time," said Dr Mahathir when asked whether the government would stop PAS supporters from going to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban.

Last Wednesday, PAS secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa was reported as saying that the party had declared a "jihad" (holy war) against the United States and had given the green light for its supporters to go to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban.

Asked whether PAS' decision would complicate matters, Dr Mahathir said: "They have the right to hold jihad but I don't think anybody is going to respond to that."

Responding to a question whether PAS, through its action was proving itself as an extremist party, the Prime Minister said it was their effort to win some votes.

"PAS is trying to win votes by appearing to be very fanatical about defending Islam but PAS has actually damaged Islam by splitting Muslims in this country," he said.

Dr Mahathir also said all these while all the the oppostion party had done had only weakened Muslims in the country.

"They have weakened us...that's all they've done. They have done nothing for Islam," he said.