uf policy criticised in pakistan parliament

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August 04, 2008 Monday Sha'aban 1 429

US wants ‘focussed’ intelligence services

By Baqir Sajjad Syed

COLOMBO, Aug 3: The United States has said it will like to see ‘focussed and good’ intelligence services in Pakistan working on the agenda of reining in terrorism that has become a cause of concern for the country’s neighbours.

US Under-Secretary of State Richard Boucher said at a press conference here on Sunday that his government would want Pakistan to have a ‘good intelligence service’ that worked single-mindedly and in ‘close step’ with other institutions of the country, implying that the current mechanisms could be pursuing an agenda different from that of the government.

“All elements need to be lined up and working in the same direction if Pakistanwere to tackle the issue of terrorism,” he said.

Mr Boucher stressed the need for a national consensus in Pakistan on the issue of defeating terrorism.

He said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani looked determined to tackle terrorismand extremism and the US welcomed the initiatives taken by his government.

Mr Boucher said his meeting with Mr Gilani on the sidelines of the Saarc summitwas a follow-up of the discussions held during his visit to the US.

Minister blasts pro-US foreign policy

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi on Tuesday stunned both the treasury and opposition senators when he roundly criticised the foreign policy, describing it as one of appeasement at the cost ofnational interests, sovereignty and honour.

He also condemned recently-passed US legislation and the derogatory statements about Pakistan made by some American presidential candidates.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’ s Prof Khurshid Ahmed immediately stood up to endorse most of the views expressed by the minister, and welcomed the “change of heart,”describing it as part of the change that had taken place in the wake of the July20 landmark Supreme Court judgment.

Interestingly, taking cognizance of the strongly-worded speech of the minister,the Foreign Office reacted officially, saying that only the foreign minister’s statement would be true representation of Pakistan’s foreign policy and Pakistan’s relations with various countries.

However, not a single PPP or the PML-N lawmaker took part in the debate during which statements of US presidential candidates and a recently-approved Pakistan-s

pecific law were severely criticised.

Commenting on the statements made in the Senate on Tuesday, a spokesperson for t



he Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the foreign mQinister would wind up thedebate on the subject on Aug 22.

Dr Niazi said in his speech that the key role Pakistan played in bringing aboutthe downfall of the former Soviet Union was a blunder. It resulted in the emergence of a unipolar world and gave the US a licence to attack any country it wished, he said.

He said that American presidential candidates’ statements threatening Pakistan’sinternal security were a reflection of the jaundiced thinking of US leaders whohad forgotten lessons of history and the glorious past of Muslims.

Lashing out at the recent US law attaching strings to financial assistance to Pakistan, Dr Niazi described it as insulting and demanded that “we must return andrefuse to accept such assistance”.

He said the country should learn to stand on its own feet by rejecting all foreign assistance as a proud Muslim nation.

Recounting events of the 1971 war with India and the country’s dismemberment, hesaid Islamabad kept waiting for the arrival of the Sixth US fleet in the Bay ofBengal as had been promised by the then US government. But the fleet never turned up, he said, adding that no good should be expected of the US in future as well.

He said while the US officials never stopped the mantra of “do more”, ignoring the fact that Islamabad had rendered tremendous sacrifices in the war on terror,the US signed a civil nuclear agreement with India, instead of Pakistan. He saidwhile India was encouraged when it had carried out nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998, heavy sanctions were slapped on Pakistan when it conducted nuclear tests andaspersions were still being cast on nuclear assets of the country.

The minister said that events which followed the 9/11 incident proved that it was the brainchild of Jews. He said that according to holy Quran, Jews and Christians could never be friends of Muslims.

Prof Khurshid Ahmed of the MMA said that the American presidential candidates’ statements had exposed Gen Musharraf’s US-centric policies, because after stakingeverything, national interest, pride and sovereignty Pakistan was still accusedof doing little in the so-called war on terror.

He said while the Iranian leadership had staunchly resisted the US pressure withfull backing of its people, Pakistan’s military government had abjectly surrendered to the US dictates because of lack of genuine support from the people.

He accused Gen Musharraf of compromising everything on a single telephone call of the American President.

Treasury bench members Nisar Memon and Anwar Bhinder supported President Musharraf’s foreign policy, saying it was based on “ground realities”.

Dr Kausar Firdaus called for review and revision of the foreign policy, and saidthe government should consider withdrawing Pakistan from the so-called war on terror that had cost the country dearly in terms of losses of life and national dignity.

Senator Shahid Bugti said that an individual had put the country’s solidarity at

risk only to prolong his rule.

uf policy criticised in pakistan parliament

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