Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday said the government had, in line with the decisions of the Cabinet’s Defence Committee, sent a formal notice to the United States to vacate the Shamsi airbase within 15 days.
Terming the NATO attack on Pakistani border posts a breach of the country’s sovereignty and violation of international law, she said that “time has come to review our relations.” Talking to the Pakistan Television (PTV), Khar said Pakistan had supported the international community in the war against terror and rendered great sacrifices.
However, the country’s cooperation must be recognised at international level and should not be taken as its weakness, she added. The foreign minister added Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected at all costs. “We don’t want any aid or assistance, but we want to live with dignity and honour,” she stressed. Replying to a question, Khar said, “It is up to Pakistan’s political forces to evolve future strategy, keeping in view the current situation. It is for the first time that the decision to halt NATO supply was taken at the highest level.” Khar added that the government’s focus was on preserving the interests of Pakistan.
Shamsi airbase to be vacated in 15 days, says Malik: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s decision to recover the Shamsi Airbase from US control within 15 days, saying no decision would be taken against national interests. Pakistan angrily closed down NATO supply routes and asked the United States to vacate a key airbase in Balochistan after NATO helicopters bombed two Pakistani military posts at the border with Afghanistan, killing 24 soldiers. Talking to reporters at the Lahore Airport, Malik said the government had reacted in “absolute accordance” with the public sentiment. He said the visit by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had no connection with the government’s evacuation orders on Shamsi Airbase. He said the tour was scheduled 15 days ago. He added that Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon had taken the protest to the Security Council along with the copies of decisions taken by the Defence Committee. Regarding unrest in Karachi on the first day of Muhrram (Sunday), he said the attack was part of a conspiracy to destabilise the country. He alleged an unnamed “third party” of involvement in the Karachi incident.
Pakistan lodges protest with UN
Islamabad: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon has recorded protest with the UN general secretary over the NATO attack on Pakistani post in which 24 army personnel were martyred. Pakistani diplomat in his letter apprised UNO Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the decisions taken by the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC), including the stoppage of NATO supplies to Afghanistan and evacuation of the Shamsi Air Base. He demanded the UN secretary general that his letter and the decisions of DCC may be circulated to the presidents of the General Assembly and Security Council as official documents of the UNO.The letter said that such incidents could not be tolerated in future. It also referred to the important role of Pakistan in the war against terrorism. Sources said that after the NATO attacks, Pakistan took up the case in the international community in a very effective way, therefore most of the countries were demanding inquiry into the incident. The US top officials were concerned over the warning of Pakistan to vacate the Shamsi Air Base and efforts are being made to cool down Pakistan on the issue. Online
