Pakistani parties slam US threats

Political and religious parties in Pakistan have condemned US threats of launching unilateral military action in the country and backed the armed forces to take steps to defend the country. The All Parties Conference (APC) was convened by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani after top American military leaders accused Pakistan’s main spy agency of having links with the Afghan armed groups. “The APC rejected the recent assertions and baseless allegations made against Pakistan. Such assertions are without substance and derogatory to a partnership approach,” according to a unanimous resolution adopted by over 50 political leaders late Thursday night. The resolution also called for initiating dialogue with the Pakistani militants with a view to negotiate peace with own people in the tribal areas and a proper mechanism for this be put in place. The conference was briefed by Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar and Director General Intelligence Agency, the ISI, Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha on the security environment of the country and the regional situation. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Akhtar Shamim Wayeen and Army Chief General Parvez Kayani also attended the conference. “The Pakistani nation affirms its full solidarity and support for the armed forces of Pakistan in defeating any threat to national security,” the resolution said. The resolution said Pakistan desires to establish and maintain friendly and cordial relations with all countries of the world on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and respect. All Parties Conference recognized that there has to be a new direction and policy with a focus on peace and reconciliation. “Give peace a chance” must be the guiding central principle henceforth,” the resolution said. It said Pakistan shall continue to endeavor to promote stability and peace at the regional and global planes, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. The US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta and senior top military officials claimed that Pakistan's spy agency is using the Taliban-linked Haqqani-network to export 'terrorism' into Afghanistan and that Pakistani agency the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI provided logistic support to the Afghan militants for the September 13 attack in the heart of Kabul on US embassy and the September 11 truck bomb attack on the US base in Maidan Wardak province. Pakistan angrily rejected the US claims as unfortunate and also dismissed the threats of unilateral action as contrary to the spirit of bilateral cooperation in the war on terror. The US leaders insist that the Haqqani network is operating from Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region and is using the lawless region as a launching pad for cross border attacks into Afghanistan. The US routinely uses unmanned aircraft to target the hideouts of the suspected militants in Waziristan region, bordering Afghanistan.