ISLAMABAD, 12 April 2007 — Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz warned the United States yesterday against any legislation that makes military aid conditional on results in fighting terrorism and introducing democratic reforms. Aziz’s comments came after leading US Democrats submitted a non-binding resolution to the Senate calling for such steps.
The resolution, submitted by Senators Chris Dodd, John Kerry and Joseph Biden, was reported by the web edition of The News, yesterday.
“Given the sacrifices Pakistan has made in the war on terror, any legislation critical of Pakistan would provoke a negative public reaction that would prove to be counterproductive,” Aziz said.
Speaking at a symposium on “Common Security and Global War” here, Aziz said Islamabad was doing enough in the war against terrorism and called on the international community to play its role in eliminating the menace.
“Our sovereignty and territorial integrity is sacrosanct. Our armed forces are fully capable of taking any action required in our territory,” Aziz told the audience of military representatives from 22 countries. “It is counterproductive to engage in accusations and counteraccusations as these only benefit our opponents,” he said, adding that quiet diplomacy should be used to settle differences.
The prime minister recalled that the country’s contributions to the fight were greater than those of any other coalition partner. However, these efforts needed to be supplemented by matching measures on the other side of the border, he added.
Aziz said a secure and stable Afghanistan was in the strategic interest of Pakistan.
He asserted strongly that Islam had nothing to do with the scourge of terrorism that posed the most serious threat to global security. According to the prime minister, the roots of global terrorism were the old festering dispute of Palestine which has been supplemented by recent conflicts such as those in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon.
“All these have fuelled a sense of injustice, anger, frustration and alienation, thereby providing willing recruits for the masterminds of terror,” he observed.
Officials Apologize to Court
Top civil and police officials of Islamabad apologized to the Supreme Court for the manhandling of suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 13. The court had earlier charged seven senior officials of the Islamabad administration and police with allegedly manhandling Chaudhry while he was on his way to the Supreme Court for his hearing. The officials were found guilty.
Chief Commissioner Khalid Pervez, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali, Inspector General of Police Iftikhar Ahmad, Senior Superintendent of Police retired Capt. Zafar Iqbal and Deputy Superintendent of Police Jamil Hashmi appeared in the court and tendered apologies. The court adjourned the hearing until April 25.
