Pakistan begins U.S. relations review in Envoys’ Conference

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Dec. 12, IRNA -- Pakistan started a formal review of future relationship with the United States and its NATO allies in a two-day Envoys’ Conference opened in Islamabad on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry says the conference will deliberate on ?different aspects of the country’s foreign policy with special focus on review of relationship with the United States and NATO.

The conference assumed importance following the last month’s NATO attack on Pakistani border posts, which killed 24 soldiers.

“We are reviewing the terms of engagement with the NATO and the U.S,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said at his press briefing last week.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar opened the Conference and Intelligence Chief Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha briefed the participants about the NATO strikes.

Ambassadors and High Commissioners from 15 capitals are participating in the conference who will ?deliberate on different aspects of Pakistan’s foreign policy’.

The envoys’ conference was called after the US-led NATO fighter jets and helicopters carried out what Pakistani leaders viewed as intentional attack on two border posts in the country’s Mohmand tribal region, bordering Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Ysuf Raza Gilani is likely to speak to the envoys at the conclusion on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar says that recommendations of the Envoys’ Conference will be sent to the parliament for final approval. She said Pakistan will chalk out foreign policy to ?protect our national sovereignty, territorial integrity’ and to ?align it strictly with Pakistan’s requirements for peace and development’.

Sources said the Envoys Conference will mainly discuss Pakistan’s relations with the U.S. and its Western allies in view of their threats, Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan especially after withdrawal of foreign troops by 2014, relations with arch-rival India, and how to further improve ties with neighbouring countries.

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