Pak-US Relations: The Role of Parliament
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Pak-US Relations: The Role of Parliament
NYT: Raza Rabbani, a senior government lawmaker, responded that the parliamentary committee's recommendations on American policy were "broad policy guidelines" and not a final decision. In Islamabad, Parliament was supposed to start a long-awaited debate that would pave the way toward re-engaging diplomatically with the United States. But the opposition stalled the debate, with some lawmakers expressing fury at news reports that the go...vernment had already promised to reopen the NATO supply lines. Ayaz Amir, an influential lawmaker with the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N party, questioned why Pakistan even bothered blocking the supply routes if it was assumed they would start right back up again. "We are fooling ourselves, and we are also fooling the Pakistani people," he said.
The most scathing criticism came from Maulana Fazalur Rehman, an influential religious politician, who warned that if the government failed to win broad political backing for its review of American ties, he would take his protests onto the streets. "We will not let such a decision to be implemented in the field," he said. Mr. Rehman asserted that given urgent efforts by the Americans to start negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan, American weapons transported through NATO supply lines could ultimately be turned back on Pakistan, earning loud applause from fellow lawmakers. And he asked how the government intended to bring covert American operations in Pakistan under the law of the land. The session was adjourned until Wednesday evening, when the formal debate is due to begin. Meanwhile, outside Parliament, a newly formed alliance of religious parties and extremist groups, the Defense of Pakistan Council, held a large street rally against the reopening of the supply routes. "If Parliament compromises on the security and sovereignty of the country, then we cannot guarantee the security of the lawmakers," said Maulana Sami ul-Haq, head of the alliance, as hundreds of protesters chanted anti-American slogans.See More
NYT: Raza Rabbani, a senior government lawmaker, responded that the parliamentary committee's recommendations on American policy were "broad policy guidelines" and not a final decision. In Islamabad, Parliament was supposed to start a long-awaited debate that would pave the way toward re-engaging diplomatically with the United States. But the opposition stalled the debate, with some lawmakers expressing fury at news reports that the go...vernment had already promised to reopen the NATO supply lines. Ayaz Amir, an influential lawmaker with the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N party, questioned why Pakistan even bothered blocking the supply routes if it was assumed they would start right back up again. "We are fooling ourselves, and we are also fooling the Pakistani people," he said.
The most scathing criticism came from Maulana Fazalur Rehman, an influential religious politician, who warned that if the government failed to win broad political backing for its review of American ties, he would take his protests onto the streets. "We will not let such a decision to be implemented in the field," he said. Mr. Rehman asserted that given urgent efforts by the Americans to start negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan, American weapons transported through NATO supply lines could ultimately be turned back on Pakistan, earning loud applause from fellow lawmakers. And he asked how the government intended to bring covert American operations in Pakistan under the law of the land. The session was adjourned until Wednesday evening, when the formal debate is due to begin. Meanwhile, outside Parliament, a newly formed alliance of religious parties and extremist groups, the Defense of Pakistan Council, held a large street rally against the reopening of the supply routes. "If Parliament compromises on the security and sovereignty of the country, then we cannot guarantee the security of the lawmakers," said Maulana Sami ul-Haq, head of the alliance, as hundreds of protesters chanted anti-American slogans.See More
- General James N. Mattis, Commander United States Central Command and General John Allen, Commander ISAF in Afghanistan, will call on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, today. It is the first high level meeting after Salala incident and will focus on the inquiry into the incident and improvements in Border Coordination Procedures.
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