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Pakistan takes principled stand to protest NATO/ISAF attack |
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ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Pakistan has taken principled and tough stand to protest the unprovoked and uncalled for attacks by the NATO/ISAF helicopters on its border check-posts in Mohmand Agency. The most important decision besides condemning these attacks, taken by the Government of Pakistan was to boycott the forthcoming Bonn Conference on the future of Afghanistan which has disturbed the world community.
International community especially
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
President Afghanistan Hamid Karzai and other world leaders are using all
diplomatic channels to convince Pakistan to withdraw its decision to
boycott the Bonn conference.
The Bonn conference on the future
of Afghanistan was being held in Bonn, Germany on December 5 and it was
the follow-up of the recently held another conference in Istanbul.
Prime Minister Gilani once again
clarified that without ensuring protection to Pakistan’s sovereignty,
integrity, security and honour, it will not attend Bonn conference.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
expressing ‘very sorry’ about Pakistan’s announced boycott of a Bonn
conference next week on the future of Afghanistan said she would try to
convince Pakistan to attend the conference.
Merkel who will open the Bonn
Conference said, “We always said that conflicts can only be resolved in
the region and Pakistan is part of this region which is why we are very
sorry that this cancellation, came today.”
Over 100 foreign minister are expected to attend the Boon Conference including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Merkel said, “I understand
Pakistan’s concern about the loss of human life due to NATO troops but
this should not distract from the fact that this Afghanistan conference
is a very, very important conference.”
Pakistan has also conveyed to the
international community and especially the US that there could not be
“business as usual” with Washington in the wake of the strikes.
Another important initiative, by
the government, which was being appreciated by the political leaders and
the public, is the decision, conveyed to Americans to vacate Shamsi
Airbase.
Although the United States has
expressed concern about the impact of the deadly NATO strike incident on
its bilateral relations with Pakistan, which, the State Department
described as “vital” to both countries.
The State Department said, “Of course, we are concerned about the impact of this incident on our relations with Pakistan.”
The State Department further said,
“We recognize our cooperation with Pakistan, has yielded tangible
results and progress and we want to see that continue.”
Pakistan’s decision to boycott of next week’s Bonn Conference is being considered an early blow to US efforts to have Afghanistan’s powerful neighbors, act as guarantors of the post-2014 peace, experts said.
US Ambassador Cameron Munter called
on President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the situation and the
President made it clear to him that another incident similar to the
Mohmand Agency strikes by NATO, would not be tolerated.
President Zardari told the American
envoy that if the US does not take care for Pakistan’s interests and
sovereignty, it will deteriorate relations between the two countries.
The President further said Pakistan
had rendered innumerable sacrifices in the war against terror but the
government, army, and people had strong reservations about the
unprovoked Mohmand Agency attack.
Pakistan has conveyed to the international community that it will not compromise on national security and sovereignty.
Pakistan Army while expressing its
disgust over NATO attacks has said that it does not accept NATO apology
and that this action can lead to serious consequences.
Such incidents have happened in the past that killed 72 soldiers and injured more than 250 troops in three years.
Pakistan has also sealed its border
with Afghanistan, shutting down the supply lines for some 130,000
US-led foreign troops in that country.
Pakistan has also approached United Nations Security Council and drawn its attention to NATO raids inside Pakistan.
The statement issued following the
meeting of Defence Committee of the Cabinet has been circulated to
members of the Security Council.
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon addressed a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in this regard.
President Zardari also rejected UAE request to review the decision to close Shamsi airbase.
NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, “Saturday’s NATO attack in Mohmand Agency was tragic and unintended.”
He wrote a letter to Prime Minister
Gilani that the deaths of Pakistani personnel are as unacceptable and
deplorable as the deaths of Afghan and international personnel.
He assured, “We will determine what happened and draw the right lessons”.
He further said NATO remained
strongly committed to working with Pakistan to improve cooperation to
avoid such tragedies in the future.
Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez
Kiyani also strongly condemned NATO/ISAF’s blatant and unacceptable act
resulting in loss of precious lives of Pakistani soldiers.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar
telephoned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to inform the US
government of the ‘deep sense of rage’ felt across Pakistan at the
senseless killings of 26 soldiers in attacks on a Pakistani military
post in Mohmand Agency.
The Foreign Minister also contacted
many countries including China, France, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Iran,
UK, OIC and European Union besides United States to convey the
sentiments of the Government and people of Pakistan on NATO/ISAF attacks
on Pakistani order posts.
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Chinese Premier Visit to Pakistan |
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Presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament |
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