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Pak opposition against sending troops to Iraq under US, UN

IRNA

Islamabad, Sept 24, IRNA -- The combined opposition in Pakistan on 
Wednesday opposed the `government plan` to send troops to Iraq under 
the United States command. 
Speaking at a news conference at the Parliament House, the 
opposition contended a decision to dispatch troops to Iraq would mean 
Pakistan government had endorsed the US-led aggression against Iraqis.
All the political and religious parties as well as the treasury 
members have openly opposed sending of forces, saying under the banner
of the United Nations, the government might consider the possibility. 
But even this option is not acceptable to some of the opposition 
groups who feared, Pakistan would evoke anger from the Muslim world if
it contributed troops under UN auspices. 
The opposition alleged that the government had in principle taken 
the decision and informed the United States about it and that it was 
looking for some pretext to dispatch forces to Iraq. 
On the other hand, the government insists that it could consider 
the option only after the world body assumes charge of peacekeeping in
the war-shattered country or the force is maintained under the 
Organisation of Islamic Conference. 
President General Pervez Musharraf, who is in the United States, 
said that sending of troops would be a very very difficult decision 
to take. 
He even declared that it would make him unpopular to deploy 
Pakistani troops to Iraq under present circumstances. 
Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal leader Senator Prof. Khurshid Ahmed 
opposing the possibility said that giving in to America`s demand to 
dispatch troops to Iraq would mean strengthening the aggressor (US) in
that country. 
/MHA/TSH/216 
End