News
Monday, December 12, 2011
Envoys moot to review foreign policy starts todayISLAMABAD: A two-day conference of Pakistani envoys posted in important countries opens today (Monday) to review contours of relationship with United States and ISAF in the backdrop of NATO attack on two Pakistani border posts in Mohmand Agency resulting in the killing of two dozens soldiers.
The envoys have reached Islamabad to attend the conference, which will also be addressed by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
The conference is taking place after the decisions of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet and Parliamentary Committee on National Security to review process of Pakistan’s relationship with the US and the terms of engagements with US-led NATO/ISAF in the war against terrorism.
Ambassadors from selected countries, including China, Britain, France, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Switzerland, Turkey, India, Afghanistan, UN and EU, will be participating in the conference, which will deliberate upon different aspects of the foreign policy.
However, it is surprising that Pakistan’s High Commissioner in UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan is skipping the conference and sending his deputy instead. Sources said he is trying to steer clear of the memogate scandal.
The envoys would be briefed by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir about the situation arising out of the NATO attacks and the steps taken by the government.
After these briefings, each and every ambassador and high commissioner would be asked to give his viewpoint about future contours of the foreign policy. The envoys would also be asked to brief their host governments about the attacks and subsequent developments. inp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk