Parliamentary Committee on National Security links resumption of NATO supply with drone strikes

Linking the resumption of NATO supply line with a halt in drone strikes, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) finalized its recommendations for new terms of engagement with the United States.

Sources said parties from across the political ambit are close to converging on re-engagement with the US and allied countries. Lawmakers are ready to allow for the resumption of NATO supplies  but with condition of ending drone strikes.

Before final meeting of the committee, the draft of the report will be discussed with the leadership of various political parties for consensus. After giving final touches to the draft, it will be presented to the joint sitting of the parliament for final approval.

According to the lawmakers, an additional clause that would ‘force the US to stop drone strikes in Pakistan’ has been added in the fresh draft of recommendations. Furthermore the clause which justifies the presence of foreign troops near border areas will also be dropped.

Chairman PCNS Senator Raza Rabbani, who was looking quite optimistic, spoke  to the media saying , “We have almost finalized a new draft that all parties agree to”.

The all-party bicameral panel had succeeded in evolving a consensus after extensive consultations with all stakeholders including military, political and religious leaderships, he added.

PML-N’s Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, the representative of second largest party in the parliament, said his party will consider the draft and takes a decision on the fresh recommendations after consultations with top leadership.

He commented, “Our party will discuss the new draft and is likely to approve it this time around”.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman continued his boycott of the committee meeting despite US Ambassador Cameron Munter clarified his country’s position on reopening of NATO supply routes.

Although the government is trying to convince him to give his input for the new draft, he is not ready to accept new recommendations of the committee.

A report claimed that the committee proposed to block transportation of weapons through NATO supply routes, while it was also recommended that no airbase would be handed over to any foreign force.

The parliamentary panel also suggested that NATO supply line may be opened with imposition of levy. However, it clarified that no security contractor would be allowed to operate inside Pakistan in covert or overt operations.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Apr 11 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, Politics. 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.