PCNS recommendations: ‘Pakistan should have clear role in Afghan endgame’
It’s an either-or situation. Either the US should define Pakistan’s role in the Afghanistan reconciliation process as troop withdrawal draws closer – or continue to face a stalemate over the resumption of Nato supplies, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) said on Saturday.
The parliamentary committee urged the government to link the resumption of supplies with the Afghan endgame.
“Washington should ensure ‘Pakistan’s key and well-defined role’ in the Afghan reconciliation process,” suggested a member of the PCNS, reviewing recommendations on Pakistan-US relations as well as the foreign policy in general.
Meanwhile, a senior lawmaker who attended the meeting of the 12-member parliamentary panel told The Express Tribune that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) demanded that two points be added to the proposals being reviewed. Both the points are ambitious, to say the least: Firstly, the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and secondly, a solution to the Kashmir issue. This additional input is likely to be clubbed to the final draft of these proposals, officials said.
Lawmakers from the ruling alliance – the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – recommended that “the Nato supplies’ resumption should be linked to suspension of drone strikes in Pakistan.” The largest opposition in the National Assembly, the PML-N, appears to be in concurrence with this demand, and the PCNS is seriously considering it.
However, chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman rejected such recommendations during the meeting. “Come what may, the Nato routes should not be reopened ,” one of the participants quoted him as saying, adding that he [Fazl] will not attend PCNS meetings next time if his recommendations are not entertained by the PCNS.
The committee also unanimously decided to amend three clauses, although these may be deleted from the final draft. The amended clauses involve US intelligence operators and security contractors in Pakistan, guarantees against US footprints on Pakistani soil and the use of military bases in Pakistan.
PML-Q Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed suggested to the committee to amend the proposals while keeping in mind the changing political scenario in the region. “We should stand united to promote our friendship with neighbours – ensuring the US that we want peace in the region. The Afghan endgame is inevitable now, and this message should go to Washington now.”
PCNS Chairperson Senator Raza Rabbani said the members of the committee will meet on a day-to-day basis till April 5. “It’s our (lawmakers’) prime duty to bring about such recommendations which could write a new history in the state’s foreign policy,” Rabbani said while briefing reporters on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2012.
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we condemn this brutal and inhuman act of police .It is not first incidence of torture ,ahmadies are being targeted many times by their rivals on the basis of discriminating laws of constitution of pakistan.we condole martyr's family and pray for him ''May Allah rest his soul and bless him (ameen' Allah humm)
Look a Democratic Afghanistan is a pro-India Afghanistan. That is why Pakistan supports the ancient-minded Taliban. But, ultimately that also hurts Pakistan by pushing ahead a retrograde Islamic ideology which will spread its tentacles to even within Pakistan.
What is more dangerous? A pro-India Govt in Afghanistan. Or, a regressive disease-like ideology next door, who tentacles have already spread to many parts of Pakistan.
Knowing Pakistan, I am pretty sure it will chose the latter.
India might not be able to hurt Pakistan, but Pakistan will surely annihilate itself. "When Gods decide to destroy somebody, they first make them mad".
This is laughable. PAK wants to play a role in Afghan reconciliation. Why would anybody that harbors and supports terrorists be allowed any role in the reconciliation?
You want to bet this recommendation from the parliamentary committee is not going anywhere. It will not take much, say a few million rupees, to bribe a select few corrupt parliament members and this recommendation will die from lack of action. That is what it takes to buy off a member, right, or am I suggesting a payment larger than is necessary?
‘Pakistan should have clear role in Afghan endgame’ .. and that should be to leave Afghanistan alone.
While you are at it, why not two additional points : US should help annul independence of East Pakistan; and assist in cancelling from all records the secular speech of Mr Jinnah in Pakistan Parliament.
The only role for Pakistan in Afghan reconciliation is that it should root out sanctuaries for terrorist and put pressure on Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan government. However, if the clear role implies installing the stooges of Pakistani military in Kabul and transformation of Afghanistan into a client state, it will never happen and it is only a dream. Afghanistan will always be sovereign and independent.
The best idea to come up is to link the resumption of road supplies with "solution to the Kashmir Issue". Hats off to the wisdom and patriotism of PML-N. In fact the wording should be altered to "handing over of Kashmir to Pakistan".
This is the only way left now that Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai has also been removed from the scene. The only flip side is the US may never be able to finish the end game in Af-Pak. But, Haqqani Group can take care of that, one can be sure.