Senator Raza Rabbani says that NATO should issue an unconditional apology to Pakistan

Pakistani lawmakers have opened a debate on the terms of the nation’s re-engagement with the United States after ties were all but severed following deadly American air-strikes on Pakistani troops in November. “Pakistan wants to
pursue good relations with every country, Pakistan also wants to pursue its own national interest,” foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar told reporters after the session.

The session on Tuesday, being attended by both the upper and lower houses and chaired by the recently appointed Senate Chairman Nayyar Bokhari, could help determine whether the country’s reopens US and NATO supply lines to Afghanistan.
The parliament was also briefed on the details of Pakistan’s sensitive defence pacts in an in-camera session.

The parliamentary commission has also demanded an end to American drone strikes inside the country and is seeking an unconditional apology for the NATO attack that killed 24 soldiers in Pakistan.

Senator Raza Rabbani, chairman of a parliamentary committee on national security, outlined its recommendations in that those responsible for the attack should be brought to justice and the recommendations also said that any use
of Pakistani bases or airspace by foreign forces would require parliament’s approval.

“This is the first time that the parliament of Pakistan has been given responsibility to frame foreign policy,” said Rabbani. “The US must review its footprints in Pakistan,” he said. “This means the cessation of drone strikes
inside Pakistan.” The Ministry of Defense and US/Nato/Isaf were also told to draft new flying routes for areas close to the border.

The panel recommended that “Pakistan should seek an unconditional apology from the US for the unprovoked incident” and said “taxes and other charges must be levied on all goods importing in or transiting through Pakistan”.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=16483

Posted by Hamza Jahangir on Mar 20 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry