Waiting for answers over NATO attack: PM
260 viewsBy jazbablog - Tue Dec 13, 7:42 pm
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday asked NATO to answers to ‘disturbing questions’ about its last month air strikes on two Pakistani border posts, which had killed 24 soldiers.
NATO is still investigating the November 26 strikes on Pakistan’s Mohmand tribal region, bordering Afghanistan.
“We expect the US/NATO/ISAF inquiry that is being undertaken to come out clearly with the facts and provide answers to the disturbing questions that our own investigations have raised,” Prime Minister Gilani told Envoys’ Conference in Islamabad, called to review relationship with the U.S. and NATO in the wake of the attack.
Gilani said that the aerial attacks on Pakistan’s Army border posts constituted a ‘huge set-back to the prospects of much-needed cooperation between all important stakeholders’.
“Our cooperation with US/NATO/ISAF was based on respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Under no circumstances, could we accept flagrant transgression of our territorial frontiers,” the Prime Minister said.
“This remains our base line and there can be no compromise on sovereignty, dignity and national honour,” Gilani said, adding that the National Security Committee of the Parliament has been mandated to undertake a detailed study of the attacks and to make recommendations on the terms of our cooperation with US/NATO/ISAF. “These will be considered by the Joint Sitting of the Parliament”.
He told the envoys that given the seriousness of the issue, the Government has already taken several important decisions to close the NATO/ISAF logistic supply lines, vacate Shamsi Airbase in Balochistan province from the U.S. military and Pakistan boycotted the December 5 Bonn Conference. “A broad-ranging review of our cooperation with US/NATO/ISAF was ordered,” he added.
“We have been compelled to take these steps to safeguard Pakistan’s interests,” the Prime Minister said, adding that, Pakistan, as a responsible state, will do whatever the Pakistan can for stability and peace of the region. “But we will never allow anyone to undermine our legitimate interests”.
About Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said there is no doubt that the region is passing through a difficult phase. “The satisfactory resolution of the issues relating to Afghanistan poses daunting challenges not only to mthe region but to the international community as a whole,” he said.
He stressed that all efforts should be directed to promoting durable stability and peace in Afghanistan and all principal stakeholders must be on the same page. “We have continued to seek clarity and advocated the need for coherence, coordination and cooperation,” Gilani said.
He said it has been Pakistan’s consistent effort to reach out to immediate and far neighbours and, in fact, all members of the international community to develop the best of relations. “Sovereign equality, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation have been the hallmarks of this approach”.
“We believe that stability and peace at home and in our region is critical for enabling our people to realize their aspirations for progress and socio and economic development. With this in view, we have taken several initiatives”.
He said Pakistan has always lived by the high principles of civility and humanity, adding that Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees for over three decades and its enormous sacrifices in the war against terror amply illustrate commitment to the noble values that are intrinsic to the belief and national ethos.
The Prime Minister said that the Parliament represents the will of the people and it is also the custodian of Pakistan’s supreme interests.
“We have made unremitting efforts to forge national consensus on all matters of importance to Pakistan. No policy can succeed if it does not have the support of the people,” he said, adding the strength of democracy is reflected in the processes of the Parliament and its Committees.
Gilani said it has also been his Government’s endeavour to enable all State Institutions to fulfill their responsibilities in their respective domains and to provide requisite inputs in policy formulation to the Government.
He said he is certain that the review and assessment undertaken by this Conference as well as the recommendations would be extremely helpful in determining the future course of action.
He assured the envoys that their conclusions and recommendations will receive close attention of the Government.
He appreciated the Foreign Minister for this timely and important initiative to convene the Envoys Conference. He commended the Foreign Office for its continued efforts in ensuring that the diplomacy has the resilience and efficacy to overcome all challenges posed by a complex global and regional environment.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar threw light on the deliberations at the conference that includes evaluation of the regional situation and implications for Pakistan, identification of core foreign policy objectives, and review of the terms of cooperation between Pakistan and US ,NATO and ISAF.
Sherry Rehman, Ambassador-designate to the United States, presented the recommendations made by the Envoys Conference to the Prime Minister. She said that the envoys of Pakistan from selected capitals evaluated important aspects of Pakistan’s foreign policy. They were also guided by the resolutions adopted by Parliament on October 22, 2008 and May 14, 2011, which reflected the aspirations of the people of Pakistan.
During the conference the envoys discussed a wide range of Pakistan’s relationships with key countries, as well as international organisations and assessed the overall regional situation.
The Envoys Conference reaffirmed that Pakistan’s external relations continued to be based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in accordance with international law as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
