The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) on Tuesday finalised the preliminary report on its recommendations for new terms of engagement with the United States, linking the resumption of NATO supply routes with a halt in drone attacks inside Pakistan.
The report will be presented to the leadership of various political parties for a nod. The committee members are scheduled to again meet on Thursday for giving final touches to the report. Later, the report will be presented to the joint sitting of the parliament.
Although US Ambassador Cameron Munter met with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman to clarify his country’s position on reopening of NATO supply routes, the latter remained adamant on his boycott of PCNS meeting.
A source while requesting anonymity told Pakistan Today that the PCNS, in its new draft, had recommended that the government should make a conditional offer to the US about reopening of NATO supply routes, only if drone attacks were halted forthwith.
“We have also 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 committee has also recommended that NATO supply routes may be opened with imposition of levy. No security contractor would be allowed to operate inside Pakistan in covert or overt operations, the PCNS further recommended.
PCNS chief Senator Raza Rabbani told media that the JUI-F continued its protest and boycott of the meeting, while the PML-N had sought permission for getting the draft approved by its party leadership.
Rabbani said the PCNS had made some new recommendations and members would now hold consultations with their respective parties. The PCNS will next meet on Thursday.
PCNS links end to drone attacks with NATO supplies
