Pakistan's parliament session to debate ties with US

A joint session of parliament begins today (Monday) to debate on the recommendations of a bicameral Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNC) designed to reshape country’s foreign policy and set new terms of engagement with the United States. The panel in its report has spelled out tough conditions for resumption of Nato supplies suspended after Nato helicopters attacked Pakistan’s Salala border post, killing 24 soldiers on November 26 last year. The incident caused severe damage to Pakistan-US ties amid already strained relations over differences on drone attacks in tribal belt which have fuelled anti-American sentiments in the country. The parliamentary panel has suggested that the supplies should be restored only after the US offers an unconditional apology over the Salala attack, end drone attacks and pay fees for Nato containers using Pakistan’s facilities. Analysts believe that although the US is keen to restore ties with Pakistan for its enormous strategic value as ally in the war on terror, the conditions may be difficult to accept for President Barack Obama in an election year. Meanwhile, religious parties and other opposition groups have built up an extremely hostile atmosphere in the country against the revival of Nato supplies. There is also a strong opposition against Pakistan’s continued participation in the US-led anti-terror war which has cost Pakistan nearly 40,000 lives and a colossal economic loss of nearly $70 billion. Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has also opposed any resumption of Nato supplies and threatened mass resistance. Pakistan Muslim League-N faced the dilemma of popular backlash if it supported government’s plan to resume supplies. On Saturday, leaders of opposition parties in parliament held a meeting under Jamiat Uleme-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad and vowed that they would not let the government hijack parliament to rubber stamp its own interests over the wider interests of all stakeholders in the context of the future terms of engagement with the United States. Speaking to mediapersons Fazl and PML-N’s Chaudhry Nisar declared: “We will go to the joint sitting with an open mind and with a joint and unanimous stand, but will not allow the government to use parliament as a rubber stamp to serve its interests.” Fazl said: “We will support the government if our proposals are incorporated and grievances are addressed” During their media briefing, Fazl and Nisar both stressed that their parties would raise their voice against the restoration of Nato supply routes through the country, saying the government simply desired to create unrest by restoring the supply route.