Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution against the remarks of United States President Donald Trump about Pakistan, calling the statement “hostile and threatening”.

The House also rejected the claim of NATO Commander in Afghanistan General Nicholson regarding presence of Taliban Shura in Quetta and Peshawar. Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif read out the resolution during the NA session, which was earlier passed unanimously by the Lower House.

The House considered Trump’s policy to increase the role of India in Afghanistan, besides its known support to terrorism and destabilising policies in the region, as a move highly detrimental for ‘regional stability’. “The move is a complete failure to understand the ground realities and emerging challenges in the region,” the resolution maintained.

The resolution reiterated Pakistan’s support for India-held Kashmir’s (IHK) struggle for self-determination. The Lower House condemned the oppression of the people of IHK by the Indian state.

While mentioning the figure of more than $123 billion loss suffered, the National Assembly rejected the US claim to give billions of dollars to Pakistan in aid. Condemning the complete US ignorance and lack of respect for Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism, the resolution recalled those 70,000 Pakistani people who became victims of terrorism in the last four decades.

The National Assembly members fully acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by the security forces in counter-terrorism operations and expressed their full support to the Pakistan Army, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies in the ongoing operations against terrorists. Rebutting the impression regarding threats to the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, the resolution declared that Pakistan had a credible and internationally recognised command and control system in this regard.

The House also urged the government to ‘consider’ postponing diplomatic visits between Washington and Islamabad, besides suspending cooperation with the US, specifically the provision of ground and air routes of communication through Pakistan. The members also urged the government to draw and inform the US of a blueprint for the dignified return of all Afghan refugees, as well as formulate economic policies to deal with any situation arising out of the absence of US assistance.

They also called for commencing a diplomatic initiative, particularly in friendly countries in the region, to inform them of Pakistan’s counter- terrorism strategy and successes and the repercussions in the region of failed US policies.

Published in Daily Times, August 31^st 2017.