The army said on Thursday Pakistan did not become part of NATO’s enquiry into its deadly air strike in Mohmand Agency last month because it did not expect any tangible results from the probe and doubted it would be transparent, as the Parliamentary Committee on National Security sought from the government details of the agreements and assurances, verbal or written, made with the US and NATO so as to formulate its recommendations for parliament vis-à-vis new terms of engagement on cooperation in the war on terror.
Military sources told Pakistan Today no tangible results were expected from the NATO probe into the strikes since nothing of consequence had emerged from earlier investigations into such cross-border attacks by US and allied forces. They said Pakistan had also decided to increase the number of border posts that coordinated activities with the US and allied forces in Afghanistan. “The number of border coordination posts jointly operated by Pakistani, Afghan and NATO forces along the border with Afghanistan will be increased from four to five,” a source said.
STRIKE PRE-PLANNED: Meanwhile, Director General Military Operations Major General Ashfaq Nadeem said the NATO air strike was pre-planned. Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Defence, which met with Senator Javed Ashraf Qazi in the chair on Thursday, Gen Nadeem said after the attack on Salala checkpost it was wrongly conveyed to the Pakistani side that the Volcano checkpost had been attacked. “When the company commander rushed to the checkpost, he saw that NATO helicopters had returned after destroying the two checkposts,” he said. The bunkers were specifically targeted and destroyed, he added. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security headed by Senator Raza Rabbani told the government to provide details of the agreements and assurances, either verbal or written, made with the United States and NATO for it to formulate recommendations for parliament with regards to new terms of engagement on counter-terrorism cooperation.
“The committee has decided to summon the officials of the Foreign Office and Defence Ministry in its next meeting to be held on December 13 so as to apprise it about the agreements and assurances given to the US and NATO, either verbal or written, before it formulates recommendations for parliament,” Rabbani told reporters as the committee met here at Parliament House. He said the Defence Ministry would also be asked to give its input on the agreements and assurances.
Rabbani said the committee took up two issues in the meeting, the NATO attack on Pakistani checkposts and the memo issue. He said the committee had decided to summon all concerned who, in any way, could help the committee in reaching the facts. “After the committee discusses all the facts in light of the agreements and assurances given by the Pakistani government to US and NATO, it would formulate its recommendations for parliament to be discussed in the joint session,” he said.
However, he added that parliament could discuss and review the recommendations. He said the basic direction in the recommendations would remain the same as was provided in the parliamentary resolutions on the subject. To a question, Rabbani said it was up to the government whether to table the recommendations in the joint session to be addressed by the president or to summon a separate session for the purpose.
On the memo issue, Rabbani said the committee had chalked out a work plan on how to proceed in this regard. A committee member, on condition of anonymity, told Pakistan Today that the committee had decided to take up the NATO attack first and the issue of the memo would be taken up later. The committee decided that all the evidence on the memogate scandal would be collected first and then all the witnesses would be summoned, said the member.
RABBANI BRIEFS: Senator Rabbani also called on Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani here at PM’s House on Thursday and briefed him and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the decisions taken by the committee. Rabbani briefed the prime minister about the cooperation required from various ministries of the federal government. A source said Rabbani also discussed how the committee would deal with the memo controversy, since the Supreme Court had already taken up the matter.
Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to the US Sherry Rehman was also present at the meeting.
I Condem the Aggression of ISAF against Pakistan. Infact it is outcome of our Parternership in War against Terror.
I hope Indian and Pakistan find peace and unity. We are the same thee is no two ways about it. oUr taste buds are the same, our interest in art is the same. WHy are we fighting each other? If we unite as nations, we don't have to depend on anyone. We have good agricultural lands, we have enough resources and we have a huge population for all our businesses to thrive and prosper. If we can create a zone like the Euro zone with Bangladesh, Srilanka, Nepal,Bhutan and Burma we will be the most powerful economical, military and social block of the world where we will have minimal dependence for resources on any other nation………..
Well said
Thats exactly what the world doesnt want my friend. They will keep creating problems between us.
If religious extreme thinking and colonial interest (/provocation) did not get in the way, then Indo-Pak landmass is contiguous and inhabited by compatible people, culture, values and history.
This is not a matter of Religion actually it is the matter of conflict.
I am surprised we are fighting like immature degenarates who lack commonsense. THe land that we call our home country was dwelled upon by all our ancestors and they all came from different parts of the world. They laid a strong foundation for their future gens which is us and we thank them by fighting and quarelling like wild animals and supporting others who wants nothing but see our destruction and enslavement? Shame on all of us who claim to be patriotic and throw mud at the other person whose blood God knows is probably running in you too if you go back some years in history
Why is the Pakistani Military spending so much money on destroying India and depriving regular Pakistainis of good education and infrastructure and consequnetly a good life? WHy are we playing cat and mouse with each other when we should embrace each other and be strong against our enemies. WHy is India not extending the hand of peace and trying to help Pakistan in the hour of need when foreginers are running all over her. Shame people, shame on all of you. All our ancestors will be so embarassed. The subcontinent has been ruled by some great kings like Asoka, Akbar, Ranjeet SIngh of Punjab and you name it. We have also had Gandhi, Nehru,Jinnah, BAGATH SINGH etc. WOnder what they think about our foolsihness and stupidity for falling right into the hands of British and the Americans. In the name of Kashmir thousands of Pakistnai and Indian youngsters are dying when they should be taking care of their families and making a good life. Why? We will only win if we both win. If one of us lose we all lose.
THe BRITISH and the AMERICANS just want our resources and rule over us. You can't blame them coz they are just being themselves. However, its our responsibilty to protet our own and not let ourselves to be used a pawn agaisnt each other. Once they are done with one of us they will try and destroy the other. They are no one's friend and it is very obvious. THink about this guys. Don't wait for our govt to sign agreement on dotted. Lets start with the common man on the street. NO MATTER WAHT LETS STOP HATING EACH OTHER AND INFLICTING HARM ON EACH OTHER. LETS TELL OTHERS THAT WE WONT LET THEM USE US AGAINST EACH OTHER! May our lands and its people prosper for ever!
we have right to kill terrorist any where any time.
If you can define terrorist uniformly, then sure — yes! And let us empower everybody on that.
Ah! Budha awakens….its always a bolt of lightening.
too sad, too late for the poor smoldering butts.
Alas! they dint see the bolt, they were not supposed to.
Babar Awan and Fauzia Wahab say they (NATO) made a mistake and we should forgive our "allies in arms" because they are fighting terror of the poor people on rich people like us. Beware of the Paki spring!!
Anon Terrorist are Bloody Taliban Alqaeeda and all takfeeries group created in your holy lands by your national interests.against India and Afghanistan. Dear Muslims brother
you can define terrorist.
AF US have right to destroy any enemies positions bankers if there are any threats.
It has been live fire from this position.
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