Pakistan parliament called to reevaluate U.S. relationship

Pakistan parliament called to reevaluate U.S. relationship

News Date: 16th March 2012

The much-awaited session of the Pakistani parliament has been called to meet on March 17 to re-evaluate its relationship with the United States and set new terms of engagement with the U.S. and NATO in Afghanistan.

The parliamentary review had been decided in the wake of the deadly air strikes by the American fighter jets and helicopters on two Pakistani border posts in November, which had killed 24 soldiers.

The Parliamentary Committee on National Security had been tasked to float recommendations to reassess ties with the U.S./ NATO and ISAF. The committee has already submitted its recommendations for the parliament debate.

The parliament will also debate and decide restoration of supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan via Pakistan, which were blocked after the U.S. strike.

A rare meeting of the country's top civilian and military leadership as well as key allies was called on Wednesday just days ahead of the joint session of the parliament that will also mark the new parliamentary year.

President Asif Ali Zardari presided over a high level meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday and discussed strategy for the parliament meeting. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Air Chief Marshal Qamar Suleman and intelligence chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha. Senior coalition leaders were also invited to the meeting to seek their opinion on the proposed debate.

The government spokesmen told the media that the meeting reiterated the government's earlier stance that the parliament will take decision on the NATO supply and relationship with the U. S., but sources said that the leaders agreed to restore land route for NATO supplies and revive normal ties with the United States.

Pakistan has already allowed NATO supply through its airspace, which also indicates a positive signal for restoration of land NATO supply route. The country's Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has hinted restoration of NATO land supply route with certain conditions, including levying of tax on NATO trucks and oil tankers.

In return the U.S. will also allow the equipment delivery to Pakistan which had been blocked after Islamabad blocked NATO supply line in November, the sources said.

In the wake of deterioration in relations, Pakistan had earlier refused to welcome top U.S. military leaders and diplomats until parliamentary review is completed, but the meeting also decided to receive top U.S. visitors whenever they want to visit Pakistan and they agreed with the proposed visit of the U.S. Central Command Chief General James Mathis, who is likely to visit later this month.

General Mathis told reporters in Washington last week that he will discus, besides other important issues, the plan of using Pakistan land route for the American troops at the time of withdrawal from Afghanistan. The U.S. plans to withdraw several thousand troops this year as part of its Afghan exit strategy.

Participants of the meeting were of the view that the ruling coalition will have no problem to dominate the join session of the parliament during debate on U.S. ties as they are now in complete command of both houses of the parliament, official sources said.

Sources also said Pakistan has conveyed to the U.S. authorities the unanimity of views of the civilian and military leadership in the top level. The army chief also told the meeting that the powerful military will fully respect decision by the parliament and the civilian leadership, the sources said.

The meeting has now sent clear message for the parliament to soften stand and to favour revival of normal ties with the U.S. as both countries need each other in the on-going war on terror and their role is very important for the stability in Afghanistan.

Several Pakistani government leaders are of the view that the country has forcefully conveyed its stand to the U.S. after the November strikes and the confrontation should now be ended to ease the tension.