Pak-US Policy: Committee to chalk out recommendations on Friday

PCNS to take up key issues regarding national security including Nato attack, memogate and drone strikes in Fata.

ISLAMABAD: In a follow-up on the government’s radical review of its war on terror engagement with the US, a parliamentary committee on national security (PCNS) will start furnishing its recommendations on Friday.

Chairman of the panel, Senator Raza Rabbani, called the meeting in the aftermath of last week’s airstrikes in Mohmand Agency by Nato forces, which claimed the lives of 24 Pakistani soldiers.

The meeting will deliberate on Pakistan’s response to the deadly strikes, a member of the committee told The Express Tribune.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is likely to participate in the meeting, to inform the panel about the decisions taken by the federal cabinet and its defence committee after Saturday’s strikes, the member said.

However, it was not clear as to who else from the country’s diplomatic and military authorities had been summoned to brief the committee on what is now being termed “a blatant act of aggression”.

Haqqani to be summoned after Ashura

In its meeting last Friday, the PCNS decided to probe the memogate scandal and summoned Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani.

However, Rabbani later announced that a formal meeting would begin the probe after Muharram holidays which fall on December 5 and 6.

Disappointing strikes in FATA

During the national security meeting last Friday, the committee also decided to seek an explanation from the defence secretary on a statement issued by the air chief saying more than 10,000 strikes against alleged militant hideouts in tribal areas had achieved a mere 15% to 20% results, despite huge collateral damage.

Rabbani had said if the defence secretary was unable to provide the committee with a satisfying reply, they would summon Air Chief Rao Qamar Suleman for an explanation.

However, whether or not Suleman was summoned for the upcoming meeting, was not disclosed.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2011.