Pakistani PM says a big NO to unilateral action

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Dec. 16, IRNA -- Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, has said Pakistan is in the process of deciding terms of engagement with the US, NATO and ISAF and declared that ?no unilateral actions inside Pakistan or against Pakistan’ will be allowed.

While giving a policy statement at the floor of National Assembly, lower house of the parliament, on the last month NATO attack on Pakistani border posts, the Prime Minister told the parliament that there will be ?no transgression of our territorial frontiers’.

The NATO attack in Mohmand tribal region along the border with Afghanistan had killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others, the action promoted relation review with the US.

Gilani made it abundantly clear that the terms of cooperation will ensure sovereign equality and mutual respect, adding that the situation arising from the 26 November attacks has direct implications for Pakistan’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity and, therefore, requires careful consideration by the Parliament.

He said an Envoys Conference has evaluated the regional security situation, examined policy options, and, in particular made recommendations on redefining the terms of cooperation and engagement with the United States, NATO/ISAF.

“The conclusions and recommendations of the Conference have been submitted to the Government and also shared with the National Security Committee of the Parliament,” he said.

He said it was also decided to request the National Security Committee of the Parliament to deliberate on the issue and submit its recommendations for consideration by the joint sitting of the Parliament.

“It is a matter of immense satisfaction that the entire nation is united at all levels to uphold Pakistan’s national dignity and honour and to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” he said.

He said the government now awaits recommendations from the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and future course of action will be decided by the Parliament.

“In every sense, the will of the people, as expressed by the Parliament, constitutes the only authentic policy prescription for safeguarding and promoting Pakistan’s national interests,” the Prime Minister said.

Giving details of the NATO attack on Pakistani border posts, the Prime Minister informed the parliament that two Pakistan Army posts in Mohmand Agency were subjected to air attacks by the US/NATO/ISAF in the early hours of 26 November, adding that these positions were well inside Pakistani territory.

“Hostile actions against these border posts continued for over an hour. The coordinates of these border posts were known to US/NATO/ISAF,” he said.

He said the Government of Pakistan strongly condemned these attacks, which were violative of the principles of the UN Charter and international law. “We also conveyed to the United States and NATO that these attacks were totally unacceptable and constituted a flagrant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Gilani said.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30715075