‘Pakistan alone will determine necessity of N Waziristan operation’
Pakistan has made it clear that any decision regarding the launch of an operation in North Waziristan will be determined by Pakistan alone, and will depend on the security situation in the area. This remark was made by Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit during a media briefing.
This statement follows the same day as US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen calls Pakistan "the epicenter of the global war on terrorism". Mullen expressed confidence in the Pakistani military's capabilities to eliminate the terrorist threat on its borders, adding that he believed that it was absolutely critical to shut down militant safe havens in Pakistan to see success in war-torn Afghanistan.
On Afghanistan, the Foreign Office spokesman said Pakistan wanted to see an afghan-led peace process and reconciliation with the Afghan Taliban. Responding to a question, Basit said Pakistan has taken up the drone strikes issue with US vice president Joe Biden.
Regarding the condemnation of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws by Pope Benedict, Basit said Prime minister Gilani has already issued a statement clarifying that the government has no intention of amending the laws.
Basit also said that President Zardari has left for the United States to attend the memorial of late ambassador Richard Holbrooke, and there is no information regarding a potential meeting with President Obama so far.
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