ISLAMABAD, 11 March 2003 — Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali yesterday said Pakistan will not participate in any aggression against Iraq. “Pakistan will not become part of any aggression against Iraq,” Jamali said in a statement from the floor of Parliament.
However, he did not say if Pakistan will vote on a UN Security Council resolution giving Iraq a deadline to disarm or face war.
“Iraq is an important and sensitive matter and we realize the significance of this issue,” the prime minister said, adding that he would also take the nation into confidence on this issue shortly. Jamali spoke after chairing a special meeting of his Cabinet to formulate his country’s stand on the Iraq issue. “The Cabinet unanimously decided to continue to base Pakistan’s position on Iraq on principles and national interests,” an official statement said.
“Pakistan has consistently stated that Iraq must comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions ... Also that peace must be given a chance and all options for a peaceful resolution must be explored,” it added. The Cabinet was briefed by Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, the statement said but gave no further details.
