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Monday, May 07, 2012
US refused proposal of joint drone attacks: Mukhtar* Defence minister says PPP, allies stand by PM Gilani
LAHORE: Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said on Sunday that Pakistan had offered the US to jointly carry out drone strikes in the restive Tribal Areas but the Obama administration turned down the proposal.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said Pakistan was willing to maintain its relations with the US according to expectations of the nation. Therefore, he added, the government had also asked Washington to stop drone strikes in Pakistan but to no avail. Mukhtar said he could not predict anything about the future of NATO supply through Pakistan.
However, he added, it would be a violation of international laws if the supply route for Afghanistan was not restored. The supply line for the US and its coalition forces in Afghanistan were blocked following a NATO air strike in Mohmand Agency that killed at least 24 Pakistani troops last year. About conviction of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in a contempt of court case, the minister said the PPP-led government was awaiting detailed judgement of the Supreme Court. The party would file an appeal and devise a further strategy in the case following detailed order of the court, he added. The defence minister said the PPP and its coalition partners were standing by the prime minister, adding that Gilani had never been asked to quit his office owing to any pressure.
However, he added, it would be necessary for the PM to quit if the court gave a decision against him in the appeal. Mukhtar criticised role of the PML-N in the ongoing political situation. He said the opposition party should wait for detailed judgement of the Supreme Court in the contempt case before taking out a long march against the government. Pakistan People’s Party Lahore President Samina Khalid Ghurki, Naveed Chaudhry and other party leaders were also present. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk