Islamabad (January 04, 2018): The special session of Parliamentary Committee on National Security was held in Parliament house Islamabad today. It was briefed on Thursday regarding the ongoing diplomatic friction between Pakistan and the US.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who heads the body, told the media after the meeting that the parliamentary body concluded that the reasons behind such statements from the US need to be reviewed.
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He added that a balanced response, wherein the country’s dignity is maintained, is needed while engaging with the US.
Speaker said national security is an issue of survival and therefore, we will have to forge unity among our ranks.
The committee has decided to reconvene again next week, likely on January 11 or 12, and be briefed by members of the security agencies and finance ministry, Sadiq informed further.
Earlier Chairing the session of parliamentary committee on national security, the speaker briefed the participants as to why the meeting has been convened. He said the meeting would consider the recent statement of the US president and other important issues of national security.
Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that military and political leaderships are on one bench. He said US has ignored facts regarding Pakistan in war on terror.
The minister further warned America to not put blame of its failure in Afghanistan on Pakistan. We will not compromise on our dignity, he added.
Khawaja Asif clarified that Afghanistan war cannot be fought in Pakistan at any cost. America’s claim of $33 billion aid is baseless, he continued.
Sources added that during his briefing, the foreign minister said Trump is talking in the language of India, adding that Pakistan’s security forces have given tremendous sacrifices in the war against terrorism and will not compromise on its dignity.
In his briefing, Asif said the US is making Pakistan a scapegoat for its failure in winning the war in Afghanistan.
Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir was also present in the closed-door meeting, as was the defence secretary.
Dastagir also briefed the participants of the meeting later. Disputing the American figure of $33 billion of aid in the last fifteen years, he said the amount is in fact $23 billion and includes reimbursement in the form of the Coalition Support Fund.
Besides Asif, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and NSA Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua also briefed participants on the latest situation.
The meeting was also attended by various political leaders including Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir and Syed Khurshid Shah.
Earlier, the federal cabinet in its meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair unanimously endorsed the stance of National Security Committee (NSC) of the cabinet, which had expressed deep disappointment over recent statements of the American leadership.
The cabinet viewed that the American statements were detrimental to the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the United States, a relationship that had been developed over generations, PM Office media wing said in a press release.
“Pakistan has rendered huge sacrifices, both in terms of loss of precious human lives and substantial damage to the economy. Achievements made by Pakistan in curbing the menace of terrorism have been acknowledged throughout the world,” it added.
The cabinet also considered other agenda items as well. It considered a proposal for granting extension in the Proof of Registration (POR) Cards and Tripartite Agreement (Pakistan – Afghanistan – UNHCR) for Afghan Refugees beyond 31st December, 2017.
After a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) and the federal cabinet earlier this week, today’s gathering was the third high-level forum to discuss the issue.
On Wednesday, Asif told a meeting of the federal cabinet that Pakistan has several options in response to withdrawal of aid by the United States.
“The civil-military leadership is on the same page under present circumstances,” sources quoted the foreign minister telling the participants.
“The US withdrawal of aid to Pakistan will not make any difference; Pakistan too, has several options.”
Earlier, the NSC expressed its disappointment over Trump’s anti-Pakistan statement but decided not to take measures in haste in reply to US accusations.
The high-level huddle of the country’s civilian and military leadership, chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was held on Tuesday after Trump’s tweet and threat to cut Pakistan’s aid.
The committee stated that the country is undeterred in its resolve for establishing peace in Pakistan and has fought the war on terror with unflinching resolve.
The statement further added that during visits by US officials, it was decided to move forward with mutual trust and cooperation, which would also lead to stability in Afghanistan.
Trump’s comments “struck with great insensitivity” and “negated the decades of sacrifices made by the Pakistani nation”, further said the statement.
Elaborating further, the NSC stated that Pakistan cannot be blamed for failures in Afghanistan and accusing allies will not lead to the establishment of peace in the neighbouring country.
It added that large areas of Afghanistan are outside the government’s writ and have become safe havens for terrorists which endanger the region.
Pakistan also voiced its support for the Afghan government’s efforts for peace, with the NSC agreeing that peace in Afghanistan is not only linked to peace and stability in the region but also important for peace in the world.
The row stems from US President Donald Trump’s New Year Eve tweet in which he said the US had foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years. “They have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking our leaders as fools,” Trump had stated.
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