• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Pakistani MPs call for halt to US drone strikes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, March 31, IRNA -- Pakistani parliamentarians have called for halt to US drone attacks in the country’s tribal regions and showing respect to the country’s sovereignty.

The US has so far rejected Pakistani calls for halt to drone strikes and even fired missiles into North Waziristan tribal region and killed at least four people.

The parliament opened debate whether or not to reopen supply line for the US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan and majority lawmakers on the first day urged the government not to allow transportation of arms and ammunition to foreign forces.

The opposition members of parliament also called for a mechanism for searching all NATO trucks to check what the vehicles are carrying for NATO forces via Pakistan.

Pakistan closed supply line in November after the US fighter jets raided two of its border posts and killed 24 soldiers. The government called for parliamentary review of relationship with the US and also to decide on the NATO supply line.

Deputies from the Islamic groups strongly opposed reopening of NATO supply line while members of the treasury benches said that only food items could be allowed for foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Mushahid Hussain Sayyed, a senator from the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) party taking part in the debate said that the US drone attacks should not be allowed at any cost and Pakistan should take responsibility for its territory.

About supply to foreign forces in Afghanistan, he categorically said that supply of ammunitions through NATO containers should be strictly banned while Pakistan should talk to the United States regarding supply of other things to NATO.

“We have to ensure that our relations with our neighbours, particularly Afghanistan and Iran are not spoiled.

Maulana Abdul Malik, a member of the National Assembly from the tribal region, said that NATO supply should be halted at any cost.

Defending his demand, he said Pakistan does not have a system to search the NATO containers and should not be allowed to use Pakistani soil.

Maulana Khan Muhammad Sheerani, a lawmaker from Balochistan province, said that the concept of terrorism was introduced by imperialist forces to achieve their hidden agenda.

He said that the so-called war on terrorism has created more conflict zones in the world and promote violence. He also opposed restoration of NATO supply line.

Taking part in the discussion, Senator Saeed Ghani of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party said that it is the first government in the democratic history of the country which brings foreign policy in the parliament in order to frame it according to aspirations of the people.

The parliamentarians were unanimous in call on the government to adopt an independent foreign policy, resist foreign pressure on issues of national interests and cement relations with all neighbours.

**1420
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80056817