ID :
210066
Wed, 09/28/2011 - 18:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/210066
The shortlink copeid
Give peace a chance”: Imran Khan
ISLAMABAD, September 28, 2011 (PPI): Dr Shireen Mazari, Vice President in-charge of Foreign and Security Policy, PTI, stated that, while accepting the Prime Minister’s invitation to participate in the APC on September 29 Imran Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has done so in the national interest and in no way this should be taken to imply any support for the present US policy of the government.
In fact, the PTI wishes to make it clear that the party and its Chairman Imran Khan, for the last seven years, have been calling upon the Pakistan government to withdraw from fighting the US’s so-called ‘war on terror’ that has destroyed the social, political and economic fabric of Pakistan. The fallout of this misplaced alliance has resulted in the Pakistan economy suffering over $70 billion in losses; while almost 40,000 Pakistanis have died, over 3.5 million displaced and 140,000 soldiers have been stuck in the FATA quagmire that has been a direct result of the US “war on terror”.
For the sake of dollars, the Pakistani leaders have shown themselves willing to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of the US even as they have been unable to deal with its own myriad of social, economic and security problems.
Ironically, even the much-touted Coalition Support Fund for providing services in the US cause stands $3 billion short - valuable expenditure that was wasted by Pakistan in doing the US bidding and which the US has yet to refund. Now the cost of subjugating themselves and the country to US diktat has come home to roost and all that PTI had been warning against has come true.
Since the PM has called an APC, the PTI Chairman is clear that peace must be given a chance. There is no military solution to the Afghan mess and for its repercussions in Pakistan - as the US military has discovered over the last 10 years and the Pakistan military for the past 7 years. In fact, the US-NATO occupation of Afghanistan is now part of the problem that has to be resolved. That is why PTI is, through its Chairman, putting forward the following demands:
The government must completely reassess its US policy and prevailing cooperation and evolve a comprehensive nationalist policy towards the US which allows it to extricate itself from the clutches of the US war and instead formulate its own national strategy to combat militancy and extremism. All cooperation with the US should henceforth be in written institutionalized agreements, including military and intelligence cooperation and that should be made public.
An end to all military operations so that peace can be given a real chance. Pakistan should help the US politically by using any influence it may have with the Haqqani network to bring them to the negotiating table for a peace settlement. If the US wants to talk to the Taliban including the Haqqani network, then why should Pakistan continue to be pushed into going for military action against this network? Instead Pakistan should assist the US towards a meaningful political solution.
An end to all US aid. Aid is a curse for Pakistan and prevents internal reform. The US aid, what has actually flowed to Pakistan, has come at a heavy cost to the nation and only served to bolster corruption and vested interests.
The government must come clean on its complicity or otherwise on the drone attacks. The government must explain the extent to which permission to operate in Pakistan has been given to US military, intelligence, private security contractors and other non-specific non-diplomats. Also, it must inform as to who has authorized this permission and under what agreements and/or understandings.
Finally, to ensure that all decisions taken at the APC are enforced, a committee must be formed to oversee the same.
The PTI is prepared to extend full support to the government within the framework of these demands at a time when national unity and a nationalist approach to confronting threats is essential.
In fact, the PTI wishes to make it clear that the party and its Chairman Imran Khan, for the last seven years, have been calling upon the Pakistan government to withdraw from fighting the US’s so-called ‘war on terror’ that has destroyed the social, political and economic fabric of Pakistan. The fallout of this misplaced alliance has resulted in the Pakistan economy suffering over $70 billion in losses; while almost 40,000 Pakistanis have died, over 3.5 million displaced and 140,000 soldiers have been stuck in the FATA quagmire that has been a direct result of the US “war on terror”.
For the sake of dollars, the Pakistani leaders have shown themselves willing to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of the US even as they have been unable to deal with its own myriad of social, economic and security problems.
Ironically, even the much-touted Coalition Support Fund for providing services in the US cause stands $3 billion short - valuable expenditure that was wasted by Pakistan in doing the US bidding and which the US has yet to refund. Now the cost of subjugating themselves and the country to US diktat has come home to roost and all that PTI had been warning against has come true.
Since the PM has called an APC, the PTI Chairman is clear that peace must be given a chance. There is no military solution to the Afghan mess and for its repercussions in Pakistan - as the US military has discovered over the last 10 years and the Pakistan military for the past 7 years. In fact, the US-NATO occupation of Afghanistan is now part of the problem that has to be resolved. That is why PTI is, through its Chairman, putting forward the following demands:
The government must completely reassess its US policy and prevailing cooperation and evolve a comprehensive nationalist policy towards the US which allows it to extricate itself from the clutches of the US war and instead formulate its own national strategy to combat militancy and extremism. All cooperation with the US should henceforth be in written institutionalized agreements, including military and intelligence cooperation and that should be made public.
An end to all military operations so that peace can be given a real chance. Pakistan should help the US politically by using any influence it may have with the Haqqani network to bring them to the negotiating table for a peace settlement. If the US wants to talk to the Taliban including the Haqqani network, then why should Pakistan continue to be pushed into going for military action against this network? Instead Pakistan should assist the US towards a meaningful political solution.
An end to all US aid. Aid is a curse for Pakistan and prevents internal reform. The US aid, what has actually flowed to Pakistan, has come at a heavy cost to the nation and only served to bolster corruption and vested interests.
The government must come clean on its complicity or otherwise on the drone attacks. The government must explain the extent to which permission to operate in Pakistan has been given to US military, intelligence, private security contractors and other non-specific non-diplomats. Also, it must inform as to who has authorized this permission and under what agreements and/or understandings.
Finally, to ensure that all decisions taken at the APC are enforced, a committee must be formed to oversee the same.
The PTI is prepared to extend full support to the government within the framework of these demands at a time when national unity and a nationalist approach to confronting threats is essential.
