Pakistan threatens to cut US ties

[patna_ke_presley]

still if leaders work for pakistan and have pakistan first policy sanctions can not damn with 180mn pakistanis dear .

My dear for that you need to make your economy stronger and that will take many years. We also took some 11 years to come out of the mess of 1991. It won't happen in 1-2 years. For Iran, it is the exporter's dominance but in your case it is importer's dominance, so you don't have that much edge.

 

[Omar1984]

Friendship By Way of Deception!

Despite losing over two dozen troops to trigger-happy Americans, the Pakistanis are truly in a festive mood. United and relieved, to say the least!

The burden of a forced marriage is offloaded and, once again, the sanction-hardened nation is ready to pay the price of defiance. Similar was the atmosphere after the 1998 tit-for-tat nuclear tests aimed to snub a jeering eastern neighbor. Now, the Western side spills patriotism and dignity amongst the 188 million citizens of Pakistan, whose literal meaning is “Land of the Pure.” Call it the Green Spring if you will. Across the mighty Atlantic, a Nobel Peace laureate acts deaf and blind in the cozy confines of the White House. This time around, Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama’s pilots eliminated the soldiers of a friendly army instead of the usual Florida-operated drones releasing hellfire missiles on the suspected residents of mud huts in Godforsaken lands along the Pak-Afghan border.

Consumed by eurozone woes, Chancellor Angela Merkel felt the tremors of an earthquake when Pakistan refused to attend the much-hyped Bonn Conference on Afghanistan. With alleged “trouble-maker” Pakistan opting out, the high-profile event remains reduced to a monologue. The German chancellor felt “very, very” sorry about Pakistan’s decision but uttered no words of condolence for victims from the Western tool of proxy wars.

Turkey’s Ahmet Davutoğlu touched Pakistani hearts, as the loss of a Pakistani soldier to him is equal to that of a Turk. Beijing followed suit, while Moscow and Tehran stepped forward for political gain. The over-confident United Arab Emirates rushed its foreign minister to Islamabad, not in solidarity with the victims but for the sake of the so far apparent aggressor. The United States thought Emirati influence would force Pakistan to reverse its decision to vacate the vital Shamsi Airbase in the Balochistan province, where it maintains deadline unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Gulf received a rare snub for acting as the proxies of a superpower.

To many, Islamabad’s drift to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization sounds more logical to analysts. Suddenly, ever-present India became irrelevant and went missing with total radio silence. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who had hastened to accuse Pakistan for Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani’s murder in the secure districts of Kabul, offered no apology but telephonic condolences. For him, the NATO action was no provocation or violation of sovereignty and law. He knew Pakistan would not reconsider boycotting the Bonn conference but he said a word or two to his counterpart over the phone for the sake of headlines. Saudis may have some cards up their sleeves to cool off the Pakistani government and military’s anger. However, with the Arab Spring blossoming all over West Asia and North Africa, Riyadh won’t back Washington as openly as it did after American private spy Raymond Davis claimed three Pakistani lives in broad daylight in Lahore this year.

For the Pakistani nation, friends and foes are exposed. When more vulnerable, the Pakistani people stand firm and explicit. Back-to-back incidents exposing US bullying of Pakistan brought to the fore unimaginable levels of deterioration in relations. Some believe that the US-Pakistan cold war has heated up with the spilled blood of two dozen soldiers. Though protesters’ placards read condemnation of NATO, for them “it is a gang of hired soldiers to wage proxy wars for Washington.”

Not all in Pakistan are content with the worsening state of relations with the United States. President Asif Zardari, Benazir Bhutto’s widower, may eventually pay a huge political cost for continuing Musharraf-era pro-America policies. For a change, Pakistan’s Green Spring is steered by its Mr. Do it- Imran Khan, whose Justice Movement promises restoration of sovereignty and elimination of corruption. Washington has suffered serious blows from the Pakistani equivalent of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) with its sit-ins and marches against the NATO supply line and endless drone strikes in tribal regions of the country.

Nonetheless, the US-led attack on Mohmand border posts strengthens the armed forces’ say in the Pakistani deep state or establishment. Though the military has brought some unforgivable embarrassments, including failure to capture Osama bin Laden in Abbotabad and obstructing US intrusion deep inside the country, the generals ride the tide of anti-Americanism resulting from the deaths of 72 Pakistanis in eight NATO attacks over the past three years. With unprecedented insecurity along the western border, the Pakistani armed forces are mightier than the elected but allegedly corrupt government.

The NATO supplies may be interrupted until a reliable mediator convinces the Pakistani troops that there will be no future provocation. Over the last decade, keeping soldiers’ morale high in the terror-stricken region has been a tough challenge. Despite venting their anger and depression, the soldiers keep up the pressure on generals for a more fitting answer to alien intruders. For all practical purposes, the Pakistani civilian and military elite seek new rules of engagement for joining NATO, eliminating extremism from Afghanistan and negotiating its peaceful political transition.

The damage being irreparable, the most recent low in Pakistan-US relations would take its toll on cooperation against terrorism. Pakistan’s humiliation, despite 36,000 human sacrifices, may even impinge on Obama’s Afghanistan exit plans. The Karachi port is inevitable too as the Central Asian NATO supply route is not only more expensive but also vulnerable to Islamist attacks. For better or for worse, Washington would have to extend an apology from the topmost level besides revisiting terms of engagement with Islamabad.

For a bitter Pakistan and desperate Afghanistan, there are hardly a few avenues leading to mutual coexistence and peace. The successful İstanbul conference that brought Islamabad and Kabul to the table offers a much-needed glimmer of hope. Turkey would have to take greater ownership of Afghanistan’s transition before and after allied troops’ drawdown. On questions of sovereignty and accountability, the Pakistani public has already taken the Turkish route.


Friendship By Way of Deception! | The News Blog

 

[nomi007]

we first made taliban our enemy now usa is our enemy
now both are our enemy

 

[T-Rex]

we first made taliban our enemy now usa is our enemy
now both are our enemy

I don't think the Talibans see Pakistan as their enemy, they see politician like Zardari as their enemy. TTP is a different case, it is a terror wing of the CIA.

 

[Omar1984]

NATO/ISAF attack compels Pakistan to re-visit its national security paradigm: PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): Terming the November 26 NATO/ISAF attack on border posts in Mohmand Agency as “a grave infringement of Pakistan’s territorial frontiers,” Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday categorically stated that Pakistan, under no circumstances, will allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be jeopardized by ill-considered and rash actions. “These dastardly attacks in the dead of night cannot but be construed as a grave infringement of Pakistan’s territorial frontiers by NATO/ISAF and definitely compel us to re-visit our National Security paradigm.”

“These attacks also have serious implications for regional peace and security”, Gilani said in his opening remarks in a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security held here under the chairmanship of Senator Raza Rabbani to consider the November 26 NATO/ISAF attacks on Pakistani border posts in Mohmand Agency, which caused the loss of precious lives of brave Pakistani soldiers.

Prime Minister Gilani attended the meeting along with Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Information and Broadcasting and senior officials of the relevant ministries.

The prime minister briefed the committee about the situation arising from the NATO/ISAF attack and the decisions taken by the Defence Committee of the Cabinet as well as the federal cabinet, which met on November 26 and 29, respectively.
Gilani spoke at length on the issues of national security, war on terror, the situation in Afghanistan vis a vis Pakistan’s cooperation in the regional and international context.

The Prime Minister also mentioned Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices in the war against terrorism as well as the importance of peace and stability in Pakistan to ensure peace in the region.

Gilani, however, made it clear: “It would be a grave miscalculation for any one to believe that stability and peace in Afghanistan can be restored or maintained by destabilizing Pakistan.”

“Under no circumstances, will we allow Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be jeopardized by ill-considered and rash actions such as the attacks on our territory by NATO/ISAF,” he added.

The Prime Minister said, “Our patriotic people and valiant armed forces will spare no sacrifice in the defence of their motherland,” adding, “Instructions have been issued to all units of the Pakistan armed forces to respond, with full force, to any act of aggression and infringement of Pakistan’s territorial frontiers.”

“The terms of our engagement with the United States and NATO/ISAF have to be re-visited on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and mutual respect,” Gilani said and asked the Parliamentary Committee to give recommendations in this regard.Prime Minister Gilani while speaking about the government’s perspective on NATO/ISAF attack said, “first and foremost, our national interests are supreme. All policies, positions and actions should conform to safeguarding and advancing of Pakistan’s national interests.”

He said the safeguarding of Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity was a sacred national duty, adding, “Under no circumstances can this be compromised - no matter what the costs.”

The Prime Minister said, “security and stability and ensuring the prosperity of our people are among our foremost priorities,” adding, “regional security and stability and good relations with all neighbours is important.”

Gilani said Pakistan, as a responsible member of the international community, attached utmost importance to respect for the principles of the UN Charter, norms of inter-state conduct and international law.

“A stable and peaceful Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s national interest,” he said and added Pakistan has been impacted severely by the conflict and turmoil in Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister said, “besides the huge caseload of Afghan refugees, which runs into millions, we have been directly impacted by militancy and terrorism.”

“Terrorism has cost thousands of lives of our innocent citizens and security and armed forces personnel. The economic costs have been astounding,” he added.

The Prime Minister said, “Countering terrorism is a national priority and the whole nation is determined to eliminate this menace from our society and the region.”

“Elimination of the menace of terrorism requires a comprehensive approach, as signified by our 3-Ds (Dialogue, Development and Deterrence),” he added.

Gilani said, “Our security and counter-terrorism policy needs to be pursued in a manner that suits Pakistan’s national interests. The only effective way forward is to have complete unity in our ranks and total support of the people of Pakistan.”

He, however, noted with regret that “our willingness to cooperate with the international community on counter-terrorism has not been understood in its proper perspective.”

“The notion to give Pakistan a “to do” list and the mantra of “do more” have caused immense resentment,” he added.

The Prime Minister said in recent months, there has been a tendency to project Pakistan not as a “partner” but as the “problem”.
“Our enormous sacrifices and contribution in the campaign against militancy and terror have not been adequately acknowledged. What is worse is the tendency to make Pakistan into a scapegoat for failings of international policies in Afghanistan,” he added.

The Prime Minister said while Pakistan continued to protest against the drone attacks, which are clearly illegal and counter-productive, “we have also been subjected to numerous cross-border attacks by militants from sanctuaries and safe havens in Afghanistan.”

“Our efforts to improve our relations with Afghanistan and support for Afghan-led and Afghan-owned efforts for reconciliation and peace have been misconstrued and actively subverted by certain quarters,” he said and added, “Clearly, there is a limit to our patience. Cooperation cannot be a one-way street.”
Gilani said, under these most challenging and difficult circumstances, Pakistan has maintained a principled approach and exercised utmost restraint.

“However, it would be a grave miscalculation for any one to believe that stability and peace in Afghanistan can be restored or maintained by destabilizing Pakistan,” he added.

The Prime Minister made it clear that “Under no circumstances, will we allow Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be jeopardized by ill-considered and rash actions such as the attacks on our territory by NATO/ISAF.”

“Our patriotic people and valiant Armed Forces will spare no sacrifice in the defence of their motherland. Instructions have been issued to all units of the Pakistan Armed Forces to respond, with full force, to any act of aggression and infringement of Pakistan’s territorial frontiers,” he added.

The Prime Minister said, “the need of the hour is total unity.”

“Our Nation, as a whole, and all State institutions are fully united and determined in their resolve to uphold national dignity and honour and to frustrate and defeat any nefarious designs against Pakistan,” he added.

The Prime Minister also availed the opportunity to underscore that, “Pakistan, as a responsible State, is ready to make its indispensable contribution to regional peace and security, in particular to support an inclusive process of national reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan.”

“We have repeatedly stated that stability and peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s national interest. We have participated and supported initiatives for peace in Afghanistan and the concept of regional economic cooperation,” he added.

The Prime Minister further said, “We believe that the way forward is to make honest efforts to get clarity and develop coherence, especially among Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States for instituting a credible process for a durable political settlement that guarantees the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and respect for the principles of non-intervention and non-interference.”

“Our continued cooperation in this regard can only be premised on a partnership approach that is consistent with Pakistan’s national interests and scrupulous respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and absolutely zero tolerance for any transgression against Pakistan’s state frontiers,” he added.

The Prime Minister said, “Pakistan does not seek aid or economic assistance from the United States. What we seek, in fact demand, is respect for our sovereignty and territorial integrity; a firm and categorical commitment on “inviolability” of Pakistan’s borders and on non-recurrence of such incidents.”

“The terms of our engagement with the United States and NATO/ISAF have to be re-visited on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and mutual respect”, he added.Prime Minister Gilani thanked the Chairman and Members of the Committee for convening the meeting to consider the NATO/ISAF attacks on Pakistani border posts, which caused the loss of precious lives of Pakistan’s brave soldiers.

Gilani said he deemed it important that the Committee undertake an in-depth examination of the situation arising from the attacks.

He said the Federal Cabinet, which met in Lahore on November 29, concurred and recommended that this Committee should deliberate on this issue and submit its recommendations to the Joint Sitting of the Parliament.

“The Parliament represents not only the will of the people of Pakistan but, in every respect, is also the custodian of Pakistan’s supreme national interests,” he added.

Recounting the salient developments regarding the NATO/ISAF attack, the Prime Minister told the committee that “in the early hours of November 26 - in fact just past the midnight - two Pakistan Army posts in Mohmand Agency were subjected to air attacks by the US/NATO/ISAF. These positions were well inside Pakistani territory.”

He said, “hostile actions against these border posts continued for over an hour. The coordinates of these border posts were known to NATO/ISAF. In fact, minutes after the attack commenced, our military authorities contacted the US/NATO and Border Coordination Centre. The coordination mechanism remained ineffective.”

“Relief and reinforcements sent from the nearby Pakistani posts also came under attack,” he added.
The Prime Minister said he was informed immediately about these attacks and although being in Multan, remained in close contact with the military high command.

“I also decided to immediately call an emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet the same evening. I also directed the Foreign Ministry to lodge strong protests with the United States, NATO Headquarters at Brussels and with the Afghan government”, he added.

The Prime Minister said, “the Government of Pakistan strongly condemned these attacks, which were violative of the principles of the UN Charter and international law. We also conveyed to the United States and NATO that these attacks were totally unacceptable and constituted a flagrant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“Pakistan’s Red Lines i.e. no infringement of Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty had been made abundantly clear to the United States, NATO and ISAF. We also conveyed, in no uncertain terms, to the United States and NATO that these attacks would have consequences,” he added.

The Prime Minister said the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, which met at the Prime Minister’s House in the evening of November 26 strongly condemned the attacks.

“The DCC reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani people and Armed Forces to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity at all costs,” he added.

The Prime Minister said the DCC noted that “these attacks had gravely dented the fundamental basis of Pakistan’s cooperation with NATO/ISAF against militancy and terror. The attacks were totally unacceptable and warrant an effective response.”

“In accordance with the Resolution of the Joint Session of the Parliament of May 14, 2011, the DCC decided to close, with immediate effect, the NATO/ISAF logistics supply lines,” he added.
Gilani said, “the DCC also decided to ask the United States to vacate the Shamsi Airbase within fifteen days. A notice to this effect has already been given to the United States.”

“The DCC decided that the Government will revisit and undertake a complete review of all programmes, activities and cooperative arrangements with the United States/NATO/ISAF, including diplomatic, political, military and intelligence,” he added.

The Prime Minister said, “the DCC also decided that the Parliament shall be taken into confidence on the whole range of measures regarding matters relating to Pakistan’s future cooperation with the United States/NATO/ISAF.”

“The Federal Cabinet, at its meeting on November 29, also condemned the NATO/ISAF attacks and termed them as an assault on the sovereignty of Pakistan. The Cabinet unanimously endorsed the statement and the decisions of the DCC emergency meeting,” he added.

The Prime Minister said, “the Cabinet called upon the international community to take due cognizance of such attacks, which constitute a violation of the UN Charter principles, international law and could have serious repercussions for regional peace and that all sides exercise utmost restraint.”

“While wishing the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan success, the Cabinet decided that Pakistan should not participate in the Bonn Conference due to the prevailing circumstances,” he added.

The Prime Minister said, “Our Permanent Representative in New York was instructed to bring the matter to the urgent attention of the UN Secretary General and have the DCC statement circulated as an official document of the Security Council and General Assembly.”

“Pakistan Missions abroad have also sensitized the international community. The Foreign Minister established contact on telephone with US Secretary of State Clinton as well as the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Russian Federation, China, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy, among others.”

“I also conveyed our concerns to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and Afghan President Hamid Karzai who telephoned on November 28 and 30, respectively,” he added.

The Prime Minister said, “expressions of regret and condolences have been received from members of the international community. United States and NATO have also conveyed that they have ordered investigation into the incident.”

“Given the gravity of the situation, it is imperative to undertake a holistic review of National Security and the future of our cooperation with the United States/NATO”, he added.

“This is an extremely important task that must be carried out by the Parliament and, in the first place, by this Committee,” the Prime Minister said.


Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - NATO/ISAF attack compels Pakistan to re-visit its national security paradigm: PM

 

[Omar1984]

we first made taliban our enemy now usa is our enemy
now both are our enemy

Pakistan doesn't deserve to be treated the way U.S. treats Pakistan.

Pakistan deserves the best of the best for the sacrifices it made in this past 10 years.

Afghan Taliban was never a threat to Pakistan. TTP was just formed in 2007, and we all know why it was formed to drag Pakistan into this war OF terror

 

[Omar1984]

Pakistan to revisit security paradigm

ISLAMABAD - Calling for complete national unity, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Friday that Pakistan would revisit its national security paradigm following the NATO strikes on its border posts in the dead of night as this incident was an attack on the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“The terms of our engagement with the United States and NATO/ISAF have to be revisited on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and mutual respect. Our continued cooperation in this regard can only be premised on a partnership approach that is consistent with Pakistan’s national interests and scrupulous respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and absolutely zero tolerance for any transgression against Pakistan’s state frontiers,” said the prime minister in his opening remarks at the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
The prime minister said the national interests were supreme. “All policies, positions and actions should conform to safeguarding and advancing of our national interests… Our security and counter-terrorism policy needs to be pursued in a manner that suits Pakistan’s national interests… I look forward to your recommendations in this regard,” he said.
‘PROBLEM’: He said that in recent months, there had been a tendency to project Pakistan not as a ‘partner’ but as the ‘problem’. “Our enormous sacrifices and contribution in the campaign against militancy and terror have not been adequately acknowledged. What is worse is the tendency to make Pakistan into a scapegoat for failings of international policies in Afghanistan,” he asserted.Gilani said while Pakistan continued to protest against the drone attacks, which were clearly illegal and counter-productive, the country had also been subjected to numerous cross-border attacks by militants from sanctuaries and safe havens in Afghanistan. Brushing aside the notion that Pakistan was seeking aid or economic assistance from the United States, Gilani said: “Pakistan does not seek economic assistance or aid from the US. What we seek, in fact demand, is respect for our sovereignty and territorial integrity; a firm and categorical commitment on the inviolability of our borders and on non-recurrence of such incidents,” he added.
“Our efforts to improve our relations with Afghanistan and support for Afghan-led and Afghan-owned efforts for reconciliation and peace have been misconstrued and actively subverted by certain quarters,” said the prime minister.
LIMIT TO PATIENCE: He said there was a limit to Pakistan’s patience as cooperation could not be a one-way street. “Under these most challenging and difficult circumstances, Pakistan has maintained a principled approach and exercised utmost restraint,” he said, adding that it would be a grave miscalculation for anyone to believe that stability and peace in Afghanistan could be restored or maintained by destabilising Pakistan. “Under no circumstances, will we allow Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be jeopardised by ill-considered and rash actions such as the attacks on our territory by NATO/ISAF. Our patriotic people and valiant armed forces will spare no sacrifice in the defence of their motherland. Instructions have been issued to all units of the Pakistan armed forces to respond, with full force, to any act of aggression and infringement of Pakistan’s territorial frontiers,” he added.


Pakistan to revisit security paradigm | Pakistan Today | Latest news, Breaking news, Pakistan News, World news, business, sport and multimedia

 

[Omar1984]

Anti-U.S. rage grows in Pakistan

Calls have increased for the nation to disengage from U.S. amid frustration with corruption and stagnation.


ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and the United States have been here before: a crisis followed by saber rattling, recriminations -- and moves behind the scenes to patch things up.

This time feels different.

The rage coursing through Pakistani society over the Nov. 26 airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers suggests there may be permanent damage to a relationship already scarred this year by the killing of two Pakistani men by a CIA contractor, and by the U.S. commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Public pressure to disengage from the United States is higher than ever, and it comes at a time when Washington needs Pakistani help to disengage from Afghanistan. Fiercely anti-American voices such as former cricket star Imran Khan are finding ways to channel the anger seething on the streets.

Khan has been a fringe political player, but his popularity has skyrocketed amid frustration with President Asif Ali Zardari, who has been unable to rein in corruption and get the economy moving. The day after the airstrike, Khan told thousands of people at a rally in the southern city of Ghotki that Pakistan was paying too high a price for its involvement with the United States.

"I am telling this government that this is the time to withdraw from this American war," he said. "We don't even know what we are achieving through this war, and neither do the Americans. They are wandering in the dark, and their slaves here in Pakistan are following their orders."

'Language of the streets'

Khan and other opposition leaders are tapping anti-American sentiments at a sensitive moment. The government has been further tainted by recent charges that the civilian leadership sought Washington's help in forestalling a possible military coup after the Bin Laden killing.

"Khan is speaking the language of the streets," said Ikram Sehgal, a Karachi-based security analyst. "If you're a politician and you're disconnected with the streets, you're in trouble."

Diplomacy and billions of dollars in aid have helped the United States and Pakistan maintain their tense partnership through the decade-long war in Afghanistan. The United States argues that Pakistan, as well as Afghanistan, is at risk from Islamic militancy.

The United States also needs Pakistan's help bringing Taliban commanders and their allies to the negotiating table, as Washington begins to withdraw in 2014. But many U.S. officials doubt that Pakistan is committed to battling Al-Qaida, the Taliban and their affiliates. Some elements of the Pakistani security apparatus are widely thought to cooperate with the militants, regarding them as a useful proxy for countering Pakistan's traditional rival, India.

Pakistanis question their country's alliance with the United States since the Sept. 11 attacks, saying it has made Pakistan a target for suicide bombings and other attacks that have killed more than 4,000 people.

The level of anti-American fervor that has welled up within the ranks of the country's military is an especially difficult problem. Brigadiers, colonels and other high-ranking officers are putting pressure on the military's powerful leader, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, to radically reduce cooperation with the United States in counterterrorism and in Afghanistan, experts say.

The United States is still combing through evidence to piece together how and why the attack occurred, but the Pakistani military has publicly concluded that the airstrike was unprovoked and deliberate.

Conflicting reports

U.S. and Afghan officials have said a team of Afghan and coalition troops conducting a nighttime operation on the Afghan side of the border came under fire from the direction of the checkpoints and called in air support. Pakistani military leaders said NATO helicopters fired on the soldiers despite a call from Pakistani commanders to NATO saying that the checkpoints under fire belonged to the Pakistani army.

Zardari's government has already shut down border crossings used by convoys delivering supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan, and ordered the United States to leave an air base in southern Pakistan that has been suspected of being a launchpad for CIA drone attacks. This week, Pakistan said it would boycott an international conference on Monday in Bonn, Germany, to discuss Afghanistan's future.



Anti-U.S. rage grows in Pakistan | StarTribune.com

 

[Omar1984]

Pakistani youth demands end of support to US

Karachi: Energetic youth from Karachi University demanded an end of all services Pakistan was rendering to the United States after the brutal attack by NATO forces on Pakistani check post, in which at least 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed.

Students expressed their views at a Youth Conference hosted by Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto) and passed a resolution against the NATO attack and demanded respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty from the United States. The students demanded an end to all such treaties that obliged Pakistan to render its services to NATO and United States for their dominance in Afghanistan and the region.

The Youth Conference was chaired by Ms. Ghinwa Bhutto, Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto), and facilitated by Mr. Omar Sial, Deputy Secretary General of the party.

During the discussion, some interesting comments from the participants reflected their involvement in state affairs and highlighted their concerns about the events happening across the region.

Humna, one of the most active participants in the discussion, heavily criticized the government and termed the reaction from the armed forces and the government insufficient. She said that Pakistan Peoples Party was taking revenge from the people of Pakistan through democracy, as democracy is the best revenge!

Hasan, said that it were own mistakes that are leading to undesirable consequences today. He termed Pakistan’s foreign policy as a confused policy and said that the government did not have a world view of their own, it was importing that too from the US.
Saad, another student in the conference, said that the politicians were using the people for their own motives and were safeguarding the interests of foreign powers.

Most of the students agreed on the fact that relationship with United States should be reviewed and Pakistan should focus more on its internal economic development than fighting war for other countries.


Pakistani youth demands end of support to US | The News Tribe

 

[OrionHunter]

Neither Gilani nor Zardari have the balls to cut Pakistan's ties with the US of A. Neither is it in the interests of Pakistan. There's too much at stake. Here are the reasons:

> Washington remains a major financial backer of Pakistan and its military.

> The US wields clout with international financial agencies, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and can potentially squeeze Pakistan's faltering economy if it sees reason to do so.

> Pakistan's military has benefitted enormously from the provision of weapon systems, training and equipment. Any American sanctions on spares and equipment will adversely affect the combat preparedness of the the Armed Forces.

The long term view for Pakistan tends to favor keeping the relationship operational. Incidents come and go, but the future has to be navigated patiently and carefully. So, getting too emotional about cutting off relations with the US of A is not the answer. What is needed is a reconfiguring of relations by pressing the restart button.

Cheers!

 

[Storm Force]

Cutting ties with USA would be suicide ....

Pakistan would be isolated like Iran or North Korea. or more recently LIBYA.

gop needs more than china to survive and play a big role in south asia.

PAKISTAN NEEDS USA

heck even india needs USA

 

[Omar1984]

^ Funny, only our enemies tell us this. By the way, Iran is not isolated. Iran is doing better than Pakistan and Iranian soldiers are all safe in their terriory. The same can not be said about America's front-line ally in this war OF terror, Pakistan.

 

[Omar1984]

Agreements with US will be reviewed: PM

* Gilani says key issues will be debated in parliament to evolve national consensus

* Says there is no use of attending Bonn moot

* Memo issue blown out of proportion

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the government has decided to reconsider the agreements reached with US, NATO and ISAF during the Pervez Musharraf era.

Talking to media persons at the State Guest House on Sunday, the prime minister said it has been made clear to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that there would be no compromise on the sovereignty of the country and Pak-US relations were being reviewed. He made it clear that all decisions would be made in the interest of the nation and the country would not surrender over just a phone call from America.

Gilani announced that his government will use parliament to develop ‘Uniformed National Policies’ on Pak-US relations, Kashmir, nuclear programme, foreign affairs and national security issue that would be free from the influence of Pakistan Army. He said that these policies would follow the wishes of the nation as well as greater interest of the state by taking all the stakeholders on board.

In his interaction with the media, the prime minister pointed out that parliament was the best forum to formulate national policies through debate and discussion. Answering a question, he noted that outstanding issues like relations with the US, NATO, ISAF, Kashmir, India and nuclear programme have direct bearing on the sovereignty and security of the country, and would be debated in parliament to evolve national consensus. The premier assured that Pakistan nuclear assets were in safe hands under a complete command and control system with the prime minister as the Chairman of the Command and Control Authority. Commenting on the memogate issue, he said that the scandal was not a big issue but had been blown out of proportion. He firmly said that the memogate scandal neither imperils the government nor has created a crisis in the country.

Democracy in Pakistan had fully matured, Gilani said, adding there would have been no need to go the apex court as all such issues of national interest could have been discussed and deliberated in parliament. The PM said that governments cannot be toppled with the publication of an article in a foreign newspaper. He said that there was no danger to the government as everyone wanted the completion of constitutional tenure of present parliaments.

Coming down hard on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief, Nawaz Sharif, he said that there were bigger concerns than the memogate scandal in Pakistan but Nawaz Sharif never went to court for those and it was unclear why he was pushing on this issue only. About the decision of boycotting Bonn Conference on Afghanistan following the death of 24 Pakistan soldiers in a NATO/ISAF attack on border posts in Mohmand Agency last week, the prime minister said the decision was taken by the Defence Cabinet Committee (DCC) and supported by the people of Pakistan. The premier further said that in his telephonic conversation with President Hamid Karzai and US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton he had explained reasons behind the decision to refrain from attending the conference which offered little benefit to Islamabad. staff report/agencies



Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[ThePakistanPrince]

^ Funny, only our enemies tell us this. By the way, Iran is not isolated. Iran is doing better than Pakistan and Iranian soldiers are all safe in their terriory. The same can not be said about America's front-line ally in this war OF terror, Pakistan.

Agreed. The USA is like a bucket full of blood that had AIDS. We do not need the US, its partners nor its crusade like mentality in Pakistan. What we need is a unified Muslim state, joining hands not only with Iran but with Central Asia as well. We must remove any Arab Wahhabi groups in Pakistan as well. Keep that craziness in Saudi Arabia.

 

[Bang Galore]

^ Funny, only our enemies tell us this. By the way, Iran is not isolated. Iran is doing better than Pakistan and Iranian soldiers are all safe in their terriory. The same can not be said about America's front-line ally in this war OF terror, Pakistan.

Iran has oil, what do you have that the world wants?