Saturday 24 March, 2012
By Alia Tabassum:
Pakistan-US diplomatic relationship started on October 20, 1947 and after 9/11 Pakistan has become the Major Non NATO ally of USA. The six decades have seen many ups and down in the relationships of two countries.
On November 26, 2011 US attack on Salala Check post claimed 24 Pakistani Soldiers’ lives, and this sad incident has changed the whole scenario. Pakistan has suspended NATO supply line and now parliament of Pakistan is echoing that “US must review its foot prints in Pakistan”.
After this sad incident a committee was formed to review Pak-US relations and national security issues. Committee’s meeting was chaired by senate chairman Syed Nayyer Bokhari and formed a detailed report presenting some recommendations but I would only discuss its salient points. It was demanded unconditional apology for NATO attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and demanded an end to American drone strikes inside the territory of Pakistan. Committee has recommended any use of Pakistani bases or air space by foreign forces would require parliament’s approval. It was demanded that Ministry of Defence NATO, ISAF and US draft new flying routes for the area close to the Pak-Afghan border. It was recommended that no verbal agreement regarding national security shall be entered into by government or any other ministry or department, prior permission and transparency on the number and presence of foreign intelligence, another point is Pakistan should actively pursue the gas pipeline project with Iran.
Leader of opposition Chaudry Nisar has expressed his concerns over the report and also proceeding of joint parliamentary session as parliament wasn’t taken into confidence. It is not sure if it’s the Nisar’s personal concerns or it is on the national interest or it’s just the party policy, as when the report was being formulated two of the members of PML-N were present there and they have also read and signed the report. In TV talk shows when the member of Muslim League Nawaz are being questioned that why they are criticising when their own party members were there? In response they are defending with only one point that they were only two out of sixteen.
Ch. Nisar has also made a point “many resolutions has been passed in previous joint sittings of parliament but a question mark remained on their implementation “which is not wrong as parliament has already passed a resolution to stop drone attacks which was resulted into another drone attack.
Pakistan is already facing severe energy crisis. It’s not only the wish of the people of Pakistan but also need of hour that Pakistan has to over come the energy crisis. America should not show concerns over Gas pipeline between Pakistan and Iran as Pakistan has no concerns over US Israel agreements so Pakistan has to cope with its energy issues.
Every country wants other countries to respect its sovereignty which can’t be compromised at any cost. Also the international laws don’t allow aggression against any country.
But isn’t it very late to protest by the government of Pakistan. Why NATO supplies weren’t suspended when innocent children and common citizens of Pakistan were being killed by drones on regular basis? Why the government of Pakistan waited for 24 soldiers’ lives to take any action? When the parliament passed the resolution to stop drones and in response there was another drone next day, why Pakistan government kept quiet.
In Pakistan military is considered a respected profession among the nation, the person who dies in the protection of the nation is called martyr and he is supposed to fight till death to save his country. When he joins the army he takes oath that he won’t care for his life in order to save his country and his nation. But what was the oath taken by those innocent children and what was the agreement those poor women signed who were killed in drone attacks? They never said that they want to die for the nation and for the country. If government of Pakistan had taken any action in 2004 when first known US drone strike killed 2 innocent children then this number of attacks won’t have exceeded from three hundred and US won’t have targeted soldiers’ of its ally.
(Published in The Capital Post USA)
By Alia Tabassum:
Pakistan-US diplomatic relationship started on October 20, 1947 and after 9/11 Pakistan has become the Major Non NATO ally of USA. The six decades have seen many ups and down in the relationships of two countries.
On November 26, 2011 US attack on Salala Check post claimed 24 Pakistani Soldiers’ lives, and this sad incident has changed the whole scenario. Pakistan has suspended NATO supply line and now parliament of Pakistan is echoing that “US must review its foot prints in Pakistan”.
After this sad incident a committee was formed to review Pak-US relations and national security issues. Committee’s meeting was chaired by senate chairman Syed Nayyer Bokhari and formed a detailed report presenting some recommendations but I would only discuss its salient points. It was demanded unconditional apology for NATO attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and demanded an end to American drone strikes inside the territory of Pakistan. Committee has recommended any use of Pakistani bases or air space by foreign forces would require parliament’s approval. It was demanded that Ministry of Defence NATO, ISAF and US draft new flying routes for the area close to the Pak-Afghan border. It was recommended that no verbal agreement regarding national security shall be entered into by government or any other ministry or department, prior permission and transparency on the number and presence of foreign intelligence, another point is Pakistan should actively pursue the gas pipeline project with Iran.
Leader of opposition Chaudry Nisar has expressed his concerns over the report and also proceeding of joint parliamentary session as parliament wasn’t taken into confidence. It is not sure if it’s the Nisar’s personal concerns or it is on the national interest or it’s just the party policy, as when the report was being formulated two of the members of PML-N were present there and they have also read and signed the report. In TV talk shows when the member of Muslim League Nawaz are being questioned that why they are criticising when their own party members were there? In response they are defending with only one point that they were only two out of sixteen.
Ch. Nisar has also made a point “many resolutions has been passed in previous joint sittings of parliament but a question mark remained on their implementation “which is not wrong as parliament has already passed a resolution to stop drone attacks which was resulted into another drone attack.
Pakistan is already facing severe energy crisis. It’s not only the wish of the people of Pakistan but also need of hour that Pakistan has to over come the energy crisis. America should not show concerns over Gas pipeline between Pakistan and Iran as Pakistan has no concerns over US Israel agreements so Pakistan has to cope with its energy issues.
Every country wants other countries to respect its sovereignty which can’t be compromised at any cost. Also the international laws don’t allow aggression against any country.
But isn’t it very late to protest by the government of Pakistan. Why NATO supplies weren’t suspended when innocent children and common citizens of Pakistan were being killed by drones on regular basis? Why the government of Pakistan waited for 24 soldiers’ lives to take any action? When the parliament passed the resolution to stop drones and in response there was another drone next day, why Pakistan government kept quiet.
In Pakistan military is considered a respected profession among the nation, the person who dies in the protection of the nation is called martyr and he is supposed to fight till death to save his country. When he joins the army he takes oath that he won’t care for his life in order to save his country and his nation. But what was the oath taken by those innocent children and what was the agreement those poor women signed who were killed in drone attacks? They never said that they want to die for the nation and for the country. If government of Pakistan had taken any action in 2004 when first known US drone strike killed 2 innocent children then this number of attacks won’t have exceeded from three hundred and US won’t have targeted soldiers’ of its ally.
(Published in The Capital Post USA)
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