ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has categorically refuted reports that Pakistani airspace is being used to send in supplies to Nato forces stationed in Afghanistan.
“Nato supplies have not been restored and no airport or airbase in Pakistan has been allowed for use to resume supply to Western forces,” Malik told the Senate on Friday.
Malik’s statement comes a day after US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter told reporters in Islamabad that although land routes were closed for Nato supplies, Pakistani airspace was being used for the purpose.
Malik was responding to a question by Senator Zafar Ali Shah, from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on who had authorised use of Pakistan’s airspace for Nato supply. Senator Professor Khurshid, from Jamat-e-Islami, endorsed Shah’s view saying, “The airspace and land of this state is sacred.”
The interior minister said that he will ask the foreign or defence ministers to present a comprehensive briefing to the house on the matter on Monday.
But the JI and PML-N senators were not satisfied with Malik’s answer and staged a walkout from the house.
Security in Balochistan
Responding to a question, Malik said that Rs14.59 billion were spent in 2011 on personnel of Frontier Corps and Pakistan Coast Guards deployed in insurgency-hit Balochistan. He said that 48,928 FC men and 2,057 PCG personnel have been deployed in the province.
Talking about the Balochistan Package, he said that 85% of the package had been implemented. He said that next week, a detailed presentation will be given to parliamentarians hailing from Balochistan on the implementation of the Aghaz Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package.
He said that young Baloch will be employed in the FC and the 1961 act regarding employment in FC will be amended for this purpose.
On another question, Malik said that 3,395 FC and Rangers personnel were deployed for security in Islamabad at a cost of over 1.52 billion rupees in five years.
COMMENTS (12)
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WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH?
It appears to me that now Indians are taking the advantage of land route blocked by Pakistan . Indian traders are having good relation with their Iranian couterpart and hence can use land and air route to carry commodities to Afghan govt.which can easily pass to N ATO .
I was reading somewhere that NATO supplies are using Indian airports and Pakistani airspace. Both Mr Malik and Mt Munter are right. Missing link is India.
Rehamn Malik the genius (Complete opposite), Even a person with IQ of 70 can understand difference between airspace and airports, Mr genius!(Rehman Malik). I can add something for your correction that ex CIA Director operations said we dont need land route let them(Pakistan) block it, what matters for us is the airspace. All ISAF supply when takes off from Air stripe near Abu Dhabi they avoid Iranian Air Space and fly over Pakistan at altitude of 15000 ft. This man is a mokery to nation 24/7. Allah help us, Amen.
It's very simple: If they are paying any fees for using air space. Share that with anti-NATO parties, they will be quite. If not then start demolishing Gwadar Port, you are out of business.
They are using only air space not any airport or airbase, I think
The readers have to choose between the two as who is right and who is wrong.
If US Ambassador is wrong then why Foreign Office has not summoned him as yet after he gave his statement that NATO supply is going on through air route instead of ground route?
@Thoughtful: “Nato supplies have not been restored and no airport or airbase in Pakistan has been allowed for use to resume supply to Western forces,” Malik told the Senate on Friday.
you are right.....he is not lying...but neither telling truth
Airspace not airbase or airport genius
Whenever Dr.Malik says something, converse holds true !
Munter has More credibility than Malik