Date:24/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/24/stories/2008102456191900.htm

International

Pakistan MPs: review national security

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: A unanimous resolution adopted by Pakistan’s Parliament on dealing with terrorism and militancy has called for an “urgent review” of the national security strategy based on an “independent foreign policy” and stressed the need for dialogue.

The resolution was adopted on Wednesday night after two weeks of in-camera sittings, which included a briefing by the Inter-Service Intelligence chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha. The resolution itself was drafted over nearly two days by 16 parliamentarians from all parties represented in the National Assembly and Senate.

The resolution called for giving dialogue “the highest priority” as the main means of conflict management with “elements” willing to abide by the Constitution and rule of law. It talks about replacing the military “as early as possible” by civilian law-enforcement agencies, and establishing the writ of the state by using “customary and local communities (jirgas).”

It also says Pakistan’s territory should not be used for “any kind of attacks on other countries and all foreign fighters, if found, shall be expelled from our soil.” Opposition parties are saying the resolution is a rejection by Parliament of the American-influenced, military-heavy policy being pursued by the Musharraf regime and also by the Pakistan People’s Party-led government.

The PPP has been circumspect about what the resolution really means. In a statement on Thursday, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said “all public representatives have unanimously condemned all forms and manifestations of terrorism, including the spread of sectarian hatred and violence, with a firm resolve to combat it and to address its root causes. This should be a major signal for terrorists that our nation rejects their agendas.”

She said the “the resolution closes the chapter on any ambiguities on this issue,” but did not say if the government would start a dialogue with the militants, or if it would pull the military out of Bajaur and Swat, where operations against Taliban militants are ongoing. Her statement did not project the resolution as a call to cut away from the U.S.-led “war on terror.”