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Pakistan troops for Iraq under UN: Minister

IRNA

Islamabad, Oct 15, IRNA -- Pakistani troops would be sent to Iraq 
under UN or OIC cover and a decision would be made after taking the 
parliament into confidence, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed 
said on Wednesday. 
Rashid told a news conference that the parliament will make a 
decision and the OIC and the people of Pakistan will be taken into 
confidence. 
To a question, the minister said Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi 
Arabia would be accorded historic welcome when he arrives Islamabad on
Saturday. "His aircraft would escorted by PAF fighters as soon as he 
enters Pakistani airspace." 
The president and the prime minister would greet him at the 
Chaklala military air base and breaking the tradition a guard of honor
of the three services will be presented to him at the airport. 
He said keeping in view the close international relations between 
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia protocol would not matter. 
He rejected the reports appearing in some foreign media about 
Pakistan`s nuclear capabilities. "Our nuclear and missile capabilities
are totally indigenous and we have made a commitment to the world 
neither to export nor import the sensitive technology." 
To a question he said Pakistan`s president and the prime minister 
during their talks with US President George W Bush raised the issue of
defense collaboration which is causing strategic imbalance in the 
region. He however said Pakistan is fully alive to its defense needs. 
Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said Pakistan also urged the United States to 
use its good offices with India for resumption of dialogue between New
Delhi and Islamabad and settlement of the core issue of Kashmir. 
/TSH/AH/210 
End