When would Musharraf finally be able to have some guts and start taking some independent & bold stands for matters related to foreign policies?
**Islamabad yet to finalize stand: US draft resolution on Iraq **
ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: Pakistan has yet to finalize its stand on the new draft resolution presented by the US to the UN Security Council on creating a multinational force for Iraq.
Pakistan, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, would have to take a stand when the resolution is put to vote later this month.
Pakistan has so far opted not to openly articulate a clear-cut position on the proposed resolution that has met with resistance from major powers like France, Germany and Russia.
Instead, Islamabad has chosen to reiterate its call for restoring territorial integrity and sovereignty to Iraqi people.
“As of now we have not taken a position,” a foreign ministry source maintained, saying the resolution was still being evolved.
Officials in Islamabad avoided giving a direct answer to the question whether Pakistan has any reservations to the proposed UN-authorised multinational force in Iraq under the US command.
“It is an open question right now and unless the situation crystalises we will not take a position prematurely,” said a senior official.
Analysts believe that in the end it will have to be a compromised text, which would take into account the sentiments of both permanent and elected Security Council members. They point to the growing vulnerability of the US and the UK whose troops in Iraq are being killed and attacked daily. “They desperately want a multinational force to bail them out,” remarked an analyst.
Islamabad has been saying all along that sending troops to Iraq would only be possible under the cover of the United Nations.
Islamabad is watching the developments closely and officials here are consulting key capitals for their reaction, sources said, adding that informal delegation-level consultations at the UN have also started.
Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan echoed these views on Monday, saying that bilateral and multilateral consultations were going on and the text of the new resolution had not taken a definite shape so far. He made it clear that Pakistan would not spell out its position until the time for it comes.
Meanwhile, officials maintain that whatever decision Pakistan takes would reflect the public sentiment and would be in the national interest.