Parliamentary review on Pak-Nato relations

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Lets see what comes out of it, but the points put forward by Raza Rabbani seem to be quite reasonable.

Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on National Security Mian Raza Rabbani has presented the report of the committee on national security with particular reference to new terms of engagements with the United States and NATO.

Senator Mian Raza Rabbani presented before the session report of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security for new terms of engagements with the United States and NATO.

Enumerating the salient features of the report on national security‚ Mian Raza Rabbani said that the Parliamentary Committee on National Security in its recommendations has asserted that the country s sovereignty shall not be compromised at any cost and the relationship with the US should be based on mutual respect for the sovereignty‚ independence and territorial integrity of each others.

The recommendations asks the government to ensure that the principles of an independent foreign policy must be ground in strict adherence to the principles of policy as stated in Article 40 of the constitution‚ the UN Charter and observance of international law.

The report says that the US must review its footprints in Pakistan and stop the drone strikes inside the territorial borders of Pakistan. It calls for no hot pursuit or boots on Pakistani territory and the activity of foreign private security contractors must be transparent and subject to Pakistani law. It needs to be realized that drone attacks are counter productive‚ cause loss of valuable lives and property‚ radicalize the local population and create support for terrorists and fuel anti American sentiments.

Raza Rabbani said the report emphasizes that Pakistan s nuclear programme and assets including its safety and security cannot be compromised. The US-Indo civil nuclear agreement has significantly altered the strategic balance in the region‚ therefore‚ Pakistan should seek from the US and others a similar treatment. It said that the strategic position of Pakistan regarding India on the subject of FMCT must not be compromised and this principle be kept in view in negotiations on this matter.

The report reaffirms Pakistan s commitment to the elimination of terrorism and combating extremism in pursuance of its national interest.

Condemning the Salala check post attack by NATO that resulted in the martyrdom of 24 Pakistani soldiers‚ the report termed the incident a breach of international law and constitutes a blatant violation of Pakistan s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The government‚ the report‚ said should seek an unconditional apology from the US for the unprovoked incident.

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Re: Parliamentary review on Pak-Nato relations

Pakistan-US ties: TTP keenly watching parliamentary review – The Express Tribune

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Re: Parliamentary review on Pak-Nato relations

‘Would any country allow a foreign base on their land?’ – The Express Tribune](http://tribune.com.pk/story/357459/would-any-country-allow-a-foreign-base-on-their-land/)

****ISLAMABAD / KARACHI: **Would any sovereign country allow another country to have a military base on its land, questioned Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday.

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Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Nisar said the presence of a foreign military base in Pakistan, established during Pervez Musharraf’s government, was never objected to by the present government.

Commenting on the resolution of parliament’s policy over future terms of engagement with the US, Nato and Isaf, Nisar said that he and his party object to the clause regarding the presence of a foreign base in the country, along with some other clauses.

“Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and other stakeholders also agreed with my point and said this is doable,” he added.

Nisar further said many other clauses of the resolution were very good for the country and should be implemented.

He, however, said that the problem is not with passing this resolution but with its implementation.

“We agree with the resolution wholeheartedly but we are only concerned about its implementation,” Nisar said, adding that many such resolutions have been passed in the past but they are not implemented yet.

Criticising media for presenting him as a hindrance in the way of this resolution, Nisar said he is only against the humiliation of Pakistan and not the resolution.

**“We want guarantee that this resolution will be implemented,” he reiterated.

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Nisar added that “people who are criticising us now for causing delay, will criticise us again when the parliament will fail to implement it.”

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Re: Parliamentary review on Pak-Nato relations

I agree with much of what Mushahid is saying, if the government wants to link the NATO supplies with cessation of drone attacks, they should only allow non lethal supplies to pass through at higher rates.

[QUOTE]
In speech to joint session of parliament, urged stoppage of all arms & ammo to NATO forces via Pakistan, given endgame in failed Afghan war

During Parliamentary debate on Nat'l Security, also urged linkage of cessation of drone strikes to resumption of non-lethal NATO supplies

Peace has to be indivisible: talk of 'reconciliation' in Afghanistan but US bombs destabilise Pakistan via drones & threats of war on Iran

Criticised both govt & opposition for lack of homework & absence of serious debate on nat'l security: parliament needs to lead, not be led!
[/QUOTE]

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Re: Parliamentary review on Pak-Nato relations

A lot of under the cover meetings taking place to help the ‘parliamentary debate’. Yesterday American and British ambassadors met Nawaz Sharif for shaping his opinion regarding opposition to a few points of parliamentary recommendations.

Nawaz says US drone attacks have to be stopped | Pakistan | DAWN.COM

**ISLAMABAD : PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif told US Ambassador Cameron Munter on Friday that a continuation of drone attacks would seriously undermine Pakistan-US relations.
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Mr Munter called on Mr Sharif after the latter had presided over a consultative meeting of his party.

When the ambassador raised the issue of PML-N’s objections to some of the recommendations made by a parliamentary committee, Mr Sharif said drone attacks were of one of the main obstacle to normalisation of ties with the US.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters that the parliamentary committee’s recommendations were the only issue discussed at the party’s consultative meeting.

**He said that at least five of the 16 proposals — end to drone strikes, no boots on ground and no hot pursuit, civil nuclear energy deal, trial of those involved in the Salala attack and specifying Pakistan’s role in parleys with Taliban — would be of benefit to Pakistan if implemented and not shelved like the two previous resolutions of parliament’s joint session and two of the all parties conference.
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“We do not want a declaration of war against the United States, but we will continue to assert our viewpoint about independence and sovereignty of the country,” he said.

**He said the PML-N supported the positive clauses but had doubts about their implementation. He said he feared that Nato supplies would be restored not in months and weeks but in days, while the five main clauses would not be implemented.
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He said the government’s coalition partners also supported PML-N’s stance.

He objected to proposals calling for ‘transparency’ in matters relating to allowing foreign intelligence operatives and security contractors in Pakistan and giving bases to foreign countries after parliament’s approval and said there could be no debate on these issues because there was no room for allowing covert operations of foreign intelligence agencies in Pakistan ad giving bases to any country.

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Re: Parliamentary review on Pak-Nato relations

http://express.com.pk:88/Images/Karachi/20120331/SubImages/11201203310221.JPG

http://express.com.pk:88/Images/Karachi/20120331/SubImages/11201203310221.JPG