Pakistan need not pay any heed to 'notices' from another country: Raza Rabbani

Senate chairman says we will never compromise on our rights as a sovereign nation


Qadeer Tanoli December 24, 2017
Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani. PHOTO: FILE PHOTO

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani has said that the United States is trying to shift the blame of its defeat in Afghanistan onto Pakistan but the country does not need to pay heed to any ‘notice’ from a foreign nation.

“Pakistan is a sovereign country and it is not in the habit of receiving notices from anyone,” he said on Sunday while addressing the inaugural session of the first three-day Speakers' Conference hosted by the National Assembly and attended by the parliamentary heads from six regional countries, including China, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey.

The Senate chairman said US President Donald Trump had blamed Pakistan for the failure of the United States in Afghanistan. “The US is trying to shift the blame for its defeat in Afghanistan onto Pakistan and it consistently refuses to recognise the sacrifices of the people of Pakistan in the war on terror,” he added.

Reacting to recent remarks by US Vice President Mike Pence in this regard, the Senate chairman said, “Pakistan does not need to pay heed to any notice from a foreign nation. We will never sacrifice our basic rights as a sovereign country.”

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Rabbani said the US had pursued a policy of "regime change and bringing about instability in Muslim countries", particularly in the Middle East.

Describing Trump's decision to shift the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as the "blunder of all blunders", he said Washington had failed to understand the practical and historical problems caused by the move. He said the United Nations General Assembly had given a befitting reply to Washington when 128 countries rejected the US move.

"What they [US] fail to understand is that the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital will give rise to a new intifada [uprising] as the people of Palestine move to achieve their historical rights," he added.

He said a new coalition of the US, Israel and India was in the making. "We find the US trying to use or build up India as a policeman of the region."

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Rabbani said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had the potential to transform the economic fortune of the region, ushering in a new era of prosperity.

Condemning the US move, the conference on ‘challenges of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity’ declared that any decision and action which purported to alter the character, status and demographic composition of the holy city of Al-Quds had no legal effect, was null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant UN resolutions. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to a settlement in the Middle East based on international laws.

According to the declaration, it was also agreed that for ensuring global and regional peace and stability, the issue of Jammu and Kashmir needs peaceful resolution by Pakistan and India in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions.

“We reaffirm that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation, culture or ethnic group,” the declaration stated. It also noted with concern increasing links between drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime, and terrorism. It welcomed and extended support to the Belt and Road Initiative.

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Earlier, President Mamnoon Hussain said terrorism was not a local phenomenon but was caused by interference of foreign powers. He said Pakistan had been dragged into the quagmire of war after the 9/11 attack in the US. “As a result of steps of the government of Pakistan, the terrorists have received a severe blow. I am sure that this issue will be addressed completely in the near future.”

President Hussain said breach of people’s right to self-determination and fundamental rights created a number of problems and the Kashmir dispute was a glaring example that had endangered the peace of the sub-continent.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq proposed negotiated settlement of all outstanding disputes through parliamentary diplomacy. “Although religious fanaticism has been often cited as the main cause of global terrorism, let us not forget that the rise of the populist right and the sanctioning of oppression have also added fuel to the mayhem. From the burning fields of the Middle East to the denial of fundamental right to self-determination in Kashmir, the world has failed to address the root causes of extremism,” he stated.

The Afghan Wolesi Jirga’s President Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi said progress, peace and prosperity were deeply linked to addressing the challenge of terrorism. Zhang Ping, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, said no country alone could address the challenges facing mankind. Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly Speaker Dr Ali Ardeshir Larijani said those misusing the name of religion for terrorist activities were doing no service to Islam.

Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav V Volodin called for choking funding for terrorism and strengthening legislative measures in this regard. Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Ismail Kahraman said the conference should be made a regular feature.

COMMENTS (5)

Sodomite | 6 years ago | Reply @PrakashG: You are right because the FM does not do anything. Rabbani and his family are going to lose their visas for USA, if they haven't already.
thoughts | 6 years ago | Reply But it is OK for Pakistan to meddle in Afghan affairs the past two decades???
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