News
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Pack your bags, Pakistan tells US
ISLAMABAD: Going a step ahead of merely condemning the outrageous NATO attack on a military outpost in Mohmand, the Defence Committee of Cabinet (DCC), on Sunday, decided to close with immediate effect the NATO/ISAF logistics supply lines through the country. The decision has been taken in accordance with the resolution of the joint session of parliament of May 14, 2011, which was held after the May 2 incident in which US forces violated the country’s airspace to hunt down Osama bin Laden. The DCC also decided to ask the US to vacate the Shamsi Airbase within 15 days. The committee termed the attack on Pakistan Army border posts totally unacceptable, which warrants an effective national response. The DCC also discussed the terms of engagement with the US and ISAF for war against terrorism and concurred on revisiting and undertaking a complete review of all programmes, activities and cooperative arrangements with US/NATO/ISAF, including diplomatic, political, military and intelligence.
It noted that NATO/ISAF attacks were also violative of their mandate, which was confined to Afghanistan. Pakistan had clearly conveyed to US/NATO/ISAF its red lines which constituted an integral element of Pakistan’s cooperation that was based on a partnership approach. The emergency meeting of the DCC was called by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after his arrival in the federal capital cutting short his visit to Multan. The meeting was attended by federal ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Services Chiefs and members of the DCC. The DCC reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani people and armed forces to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity at all costs. The prime minister will take parliament into confidence on the whole range of measures regarding matters relating to Pakistan’s future cooperation with US/NATO/ISAF, in the near future, the spokesman of PM House told the media. The DCC strongly condemned the attack by NATO/ISAF aircrafts on Pakistani border posts in the Mohmand Agency, which resulted in the loss of precious lives of officers and men of Pakistan Army and injuries to several others. The meeting expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to families of the soldiers who fought valiantly and embraced martyrdom, and also prayed for the early recovery of those who were injured. The committee noted that strong protests had been lodged with the United States and at NATO Headquarters in Brussels conveying in the strongest possible terms Pakistan’s condemnation of these attacks, which constituted a breach of sovereignty, were violative of international law and had gravely dented the fundamental basis of Pakistan’s cooperation with NATO/ISAF against militancy and terror. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk