Rehman Malik rejects Cameron Munter’s statement

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has categorically rejected the statement of US ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, about the use of Pakistani airspace to send supplies to NATO forces battling in Afghanistan.

Malik while speaking in Senate observed, “NATO supplies have not been restored and no airport or airbase in Pakistan has been allowed for use to resume supply to Western forces”.

His refusal came a day after Munter claimed that although land routes were closed for allied forces’ supplies, Pakistani airspace was being opened for transportation.

He was answering a query raised by Senator Zafar Ali Shah, from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on who had permitted use of Pakistan’s airspace for supply of NATO forces.

Senator Professor Khurshid, from Jamat-e-Islami (JI), endorsed Shah’s view observing, “The airspace and land of this state is sacred”.

Malik was of the view that he will ask the foreign or defence ministers to present a comprehensive briefing to the house on the matter by next week. However, he failed to satisfy the JI and PML-N senators who staged a token walkout from Senate.

About the Balochistan, the minister informed that Rs14.59 billion were spent in 2011 on personnel of Frontier Corps and Pakistan Coast Guards deployed in insurgency-hit province. As many as 48,928 FC men and 2,057 PCG personnel have been deployed in the area, he added.

He further said that 85% of the Aghaz-e-Huqooq Balochistan package had been implemented, saying a detailed presentation will be given to parliamentarians hailing from Balochistan on the implementation.

Malik claimed that a third force is trying to destabilise the situation in Balochistan, saying that the government is ready to hold a dialogues with Baloch separatists. The young Baloch will be employed in the FC and the 1961 act regarding employment in FC will be amended for this purpose, he asserted.

The minister maintained that conspiracies were being hatched to separate the province from Pakistan, urging the need for everyone to take the issue critically. About US Congressional hearing over Balochistan, he said that it was internal matter of Pakistan and there should be no external interference in the matter.

In the meantime, Malik condemned the drone strikes in Tribal region, saying he had been opposing the attacks as it was violation of its sovereignty.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 10 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.