Pakistan-US relation Parliamentary review slated for March 20

Parliament will review recommendations for three days, and deliberate on reopening NATO supply route.

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary committee on national security is all set to place its suggestions for a review of Pakistan US ties in before the joint session of the parliament on March 20, 2012, sources said on Saturday.

The much awaited review on Pakistan’s policy towards US will determine whether Pakistan will reopen land routes for supplies to be shipped to Nato and US troops stationed in Afghanistan. They had been shut after the Nato attack on Pakistani check post in November 2011. Ties between the two countries have been strained since then.

President Zardari in his meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the COAS Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani along with foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, and services chiefs a couple of days ago over the same matter has discussed all the possible aspects and relevant angles, including a decision in principle to reopen the supply routes.

The Troika held a meeting with coalition partners right after the presidential address on Saturday with all unanimously deciding that the review and Nato supply route resumption would be decided by parliament in a joint session in light of recommendations of the parliamentary committee set up for the purpose. Additionally it was decided that there will be no confrontation once the recommendations are presented in the parliament.