F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Speaker of National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday said national security is an issue of survival and therefore, we will have to forge unity among our ranks.
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.
The meeting was also attended by various political leaders including Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir and Syed Khurshid Shah.
Later, Ayaz Sadiq told newsmen that the participants said that all political parties are united to safeguard interests of the country. He said we want engagement with the United States but with dignity and honour.
He said another meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security would be convened soon to chalk out a plan to meet any eventuality. The speaker said that officials of defense institutions will also be invited in the next meeting.
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.
