Civil-military leaders to map out agenda

Pakistan reiterates it will launch an offensive in N Waziristan when it considers fit.


Express October 17, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The country’s top civil and military leadership put their heads together on Saturday to finalise Pakistan’s strategy for the upcoming dialogue with the US, as Islamabad refused to give a timetable for a military offensive in North Waziristan Agency.

In the meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, it was decided to take up with the US issues of drone attacks, reimbursement of the Coalition Support Fund and implementation of the legislation on the reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs).

Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Finance Secretary Salman Siddique also attended the meeting.

After the meeting, spokesperson for the president Farhatullah Babar told the media that the Pakistan-US strategic dialogue will take place on October 21-22 in Washington.

Babar said the government wanted to pursue multifaceted, comprehensive cooperation with the US and would also raise the issue of the fallout of increased US drone attacks in the country’s tribal belt with the Obama administration.

“Pakistan will also seek early reimbursement of coalition support fund arrears and ROZ legislation,” the spokesperson added.

Babar said that measures to promote intelligence sharing between the two countries and enhancing the capacity of Pakistan’s security forces would also be discussed.

According to Babar, Zardari expressed hope that discussions during the forthcoming dialogue would be productive and help strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan made it clear that it would decide when to go after militants in North Waziristan on its “own judgment, priorities and the national interest”.

A Foreign Office statement insisted that no one should doubt Pakistan’s resolve to fight extremism. “Being cognizant of the threat and environment, Pakistan Army has conducted calibrated operations against terrorist and extremist forces,” the statement added.

The reaction came after top US officials urged Pakistan to launch an offensive against the Haqqani network in North Waziristan.

“While we understand International Security Assistance Force concerns, any question relating to when, how and what is to be done in North Waziristan is based on judgment, keeping in mind our capacities, priorities and overall national interest,” the statement said.

However, the Foreign Office was quick to add that this in no way should be interpreted as a lack of resolve on Pakistan’s part to fight extremism.

It said Pakistan had carried out large-scale military operations in various parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to establish the writ of the state and disrupt/incapacitate al Qaeda and its affiliates.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Sultan Ahmed. | 13 years ago | Reply You should accept writ of the state, look, and learn the lesson , they cam across the ocean,stationed in a country keeping in mind the safety of their people, what you doing, killing your own brothers by act of suicide attack, hateful,please come to table that is right way and resolve all issue relating to.........
Yasser | 13 years ago | Reply That's good to see, military and Govt are collaborating on the issue
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