New Congress legislation: US ‘bribing govt’ for N Waziristan operation, says Imran

Says US seeking to discredit army by linking aid with military operation.


Our Correspondent June 13, 2014
A file photo of PTI chairperson Imran Khan. PHOTO: PPI

ISLAMABAD:


Pakistan Tehreek Insaf chief Imran Khan condemned US efforts to ‘purchase the services of the Pakistan government’ to carry out a military operation in North Waziristan.


By linking military aid and the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) payments directly to an operation in North Waziristan, the United States is bribing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government while seeking to discredit the Pakistan Army, said Khan in a statement issued on Thursday.

He was referring to the Carl Levin National Defence Authorisation Act for fiscal year 2015 in the US Congress, which links providing military assistance to Pakistan with Islamabad conducting military operations in North Waziristan.

Under the act, the US administration will also have to submit, twice a year, a report on the security cooperation with Pakistan, certifying that action is being taken against terrorists.

Imran pointed out that conducting such a military operation when most of the groups in North Waziristan are open to talks is ‘suicidal’ as it would result in the displacement of 0.7 million people.

“Those groups who have delinked themselves from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and want dialogue will be turned against Pakistan, uniting the militant forces again”, he maintained.



On behalf of PTI, Imran Khan put forward a set of demands. First, he urged the government to reject this move by the United States and inform the political leadership of the status of the dialogue mandated by the All Parties Conference in September last year.

He also demanded the government ensure that those seeking dialogue are separated from those continuing to carry out acts of terror and to isolate the latter. It must also ensure that all civilians are evacuated from the area of the operation.

Mazari scoffs at Nawaz’s letter to Modi

PTI’s Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari condemned the prime minister’s approach of continuing to pursue Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She also expressed disapproval at what she termed the premier’s indifferent attitude towards the state of affairs in the country at this crucial time.

Talking to the media, Mazari said that instead of focusing on the deteriorating law and order situation, the PM seems busy in writing letters and sending gifts to Modi’s family.

Unfortunately, Mazari stated the PM seems oblivious to the fact that the Modi government has shown no positive response to his overtures, and ironically the PM’s letter to Modi comes in the wake of discovery of Indian weapons in the Karachi airport attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2014.

COMMENTS (42)

Ali khan | 9 years ago | Reply

Imran khan the great

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply

I cannot understand where Pakistan army is behind people like Imran, Qadri, Chaudrys and Sheikh Rashid.

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