Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told the National Assembly on Wednesday that it was only parliament, which would take a decision regarding NATO supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan. “The Parliamentary Committee on National Security is looking into the matter. The recommendations of the envoys’ conference have also been forwarded to the same committee and it will formulate recommendations vis-à-vis the terms of engagement with NATO, ISAF and the US, in light of these recommendations and keeping in view the ground realities,” she said in reply to a question during the question hour.
She said the recommendations of the security committee would be discussed in the House to reach a unanimous decision on the issue.
To another question, Khar said it was difficult immediately after May 2 incident for Pakistan to show such a response as expressed after the attack on the Salala checkpost because the country was comparatively on weaker morale position due to proven presence of Osama bin Laden on its soil.
The foreign minister said the sanction regimes on Iran due to its nuclear programme would not affect Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, saying Islamabad was keen to complete it as soon as possible.
She said there were three kinds of sanction regimes ie UN sanctions, US sanctions and European Union sanctions. “The export of gas from Iran does not fall under any of these,” the foreign minister said.
Minister for Professional and Technical Training Riaz Hussain Pirzada told the House that Pakistan and India were working on a list of 58 items to be included in the mutual trade.
Defending the government’s decision to declare India the most favoured nation, Pirzada said it would benefit Pakistan and added the mutual trade would cost comparatively low to both countries due to cross border route.
He said the decision to declare India as MFN was taken after consulting all institutions concerned.
To a question, she said the number of trade centres along the Line of Control would be increased as the country was trying to increase LoC trade.
To a question, Federal Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said employees were getting their salaries on time now, adding that pensioners were also not facing problems.
