Libya air strikes: Islamabad expresses reservations
Bashir says Pakistan could be affected by political turmoil in the Middle East and the situation in Libya.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has serious reservations over the interpretation given to the UN resolution about Libya which appears to have granted permission to allied forces to carry out attacks on a sovereign country, said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Saturday.
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Bashir said that Pakistan could be affected by the political turmoil in the Middle East and the situation in Libya.
“No country should be divided, fractured or brought under attack merely in the name of restoration of democracy or protection of human rights,” he said. “We also reject the formula of regime change with the intervention of foreign forces. Libya has its internal problems so it is up to its people to decide their fate.”
He added that Pakistan’s priority was stability and peace in the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan.
Bashir said that Pakistan has concerns over the use of force against Libya. Pakistan joins Russia, India and China among the list of countries that have been opposed to the aerial bombardment of Libya.
The government is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East and a task force has been established to evacuate Pakistanis from these countries, said Bashir.
More than 5,000 Pakistanis have been evacuated from Libya through seven special flights so far. Over 300,000 Pakistani citizens live in the countries currently beset with unrest, including 86,000 in Bahrain, of which 10,000 are serving in police and defence services. At least five Pakistanis have reportedly been killed in violent incidents in Bahrain.
Davis and drone attacks
Later, the committee was given a briefing on the drone attacks in a closed session.
Senator Salim Saifullah, chairman of the committee, said that they had strongly protested against the release of Davis as well as the killing of more than 44 tribal elders in a US drone attack in Datakhel a day after Davis’ release.
The committee also decided to take up the issue of visa issuance to Americans in large numbers by the interior ministry.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2011.
Pakistan has serious reservations over the interpretation given to the UN resolution about Libya which appears to have granted permission to allied forces to carry out attacks on a sovereign country, said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Saturday.
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Bashir said that Pakistan could be affected by the political turmoil in the Middle East and the situation in Libya.
“No country should be divided, fractured or brought under attack merely in the name of restoration of democracy or protection of human rights,” he said. “We also reject the formula of regime change with the intervention of foreign forces. Libya has its internal problems so it is up to its people to decide their fate.”
He added that Pakistan’s priority was stability and peace in the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan.
Bashir said that Pakistan has concerns over the use of force against Libya. Pakistan joins Russia, India and China among the list of countries that have been opposed to the aerial bombardment of Libya.
The government is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East and a task force has been established to evacuate Pakistanis from these countries, said Bashir.
More than 5,000 Pakistanis have been evacuated from Libya through seven special flights so far. Over 300,000 Pakistani citizens live in the countries currently beset with unrest, including 86,000 in Bahrain, of which 10,000 are serving in police and defence services. At least five Pakistanis have reportedly been killed in violent incidents in Bahrain.
Davis and drone attacks
Later, the committee was given a briefing on the drone attacks in a closed session.
Senator Salim Saifullah, chairman of the committee, said that they had strongly protested against the release of Davis as well as the killing of more than 44 tribal elders in a US drone attack in Datakhel a day after Davis’ release.
The committee also decided to take up the issue of visa issuance to Americans in large numbers by the interior ministry.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2011.