Military throws weight on Parliament about resumption of NATO supply route

One of the hot issues is resumption of NATO supply route that is to handle at the moment. The military threw the weight on politicians by asserting that the decision to resume supply-line will be taken by parliament alone.

On Monday, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani hinted at improved coordination with the United States to conduct operations at the Afghan bordering areas.

Gen. Kayani, who was accompanying Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman and a group of media personnel at the Jacobabad Airbase (Shahbaz Airbase) on Monday, observed, “Parliament reserves the right to decide the resumption of NATO supplies.”

The military chief, at the occasion, stated that Jacobabad Airbase was now under the control of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

While replying about the US, to which Pakistan had ordered to vacate the airbase in the aftermath of the November 26 Salala checkpoint strike, Kayni observed that the two countries were cooperating on defence operations.

The chief affirmed, “Pakistani officials are taken into confidence whenever Afghan bordering areas are to be attacked. The US always takes Pakistan into confidence when it comes to conducting operations against militants on bordering areas of Afghanistan.”

About the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), which was set up by the US Congress after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan to reimburse allies for costs in supporting the US-led war on militancy, the chief stated that Pakistan was yet to receive $1.5 billion from America.

He dispelled the impression that a major chunk of the budget was eaten up by the security forces.

At the occasion, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman also spoke with the media. He informed the media saying, “Pakistan is manufacturing its own unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra and they will soon be able to prepare UAVs equipped with missile technology.”

He reiterated his previous assertion that they had the capability to bring down spy planes being operated by the US in the Tribal region. However, he also stated that the policy and decision rests with Parliament.

He commented that the western and eastern borders were safe. About India’s cold start doctrine with a focus on aerial power, he said the PAF had the capability to avert any threat posed by the doctrine.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 14 2012. Filed under 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.