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Saturday, May 16, 2009
Military leadership says world guarantees can’t be trusted; Kayani briefs politicians on Swat situation; leaders resolve to preserve Pakistan’s sovereignty
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: The military leadership on Friday told the national political leadership that there was no chance of moving the armed forces from Pakistan’s border with India for their deployment at the western borders.
In a five-hour-long in-camera briefing to the national leadership here at the PM House, the military leadership clearly said that no guarantee from the international community could be accepted.
According to sources, on the query of PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif about the situation at the eastern borders, the military leadership told the political leadership that the United States had asked for the deployment of forces at the Afghanistan border by moving them from the Indian border and was even ready to give guarantees that India would not make any misadventure against Pakistan. But Pakistan rejected the proposal and made it clear that on the issue of national security, it did not trust any kind of international guarantees.
Sources said Maulana Fazlur Rehman complained that parliament was not taken into confidence before launching the Army operation and on this the military leadership replied that on the directives of the president and the prime minister and on the requisition of the NWFP government, the operation was launched, and if it had not been kept secret, the armed forces would have borne more losses.
Sources said Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi questioned about the timeframe of the operation and was informed that though it might continue for four to six weeks yet no final timeframe was fixed for it.
The sources said the national leadership was also told that the militants were sending pictures of shaved off faces of killed miscreants to gain public support. The sources said one of the military officials asked the national leadership to support the operation and on this Maulana Fazl quickly replied how it could be supported in front of people.
The sources said when Ch Pervez Elahi inquired how the militants were getting funds and weapons, no reply was given. The sources said Head of Special Support Group Lt General Nadeem Ahmed briefed the national leadership on the relief operation for the IDPs and they expressed satisfaction over it.
The leadership was told that the IDPs would cross the figure of 1.2 million. The sources said the leadership was also told that Buner had been cleared off the militants and the IDPs had started returning to their homes.
The sources said parliamentary leader of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar asked as to what will happen if the militants from Malakand also came to the camps in the guise of the IDPs. On his query, it was said that if they lay down their arms and reveal themselves, then they could be accepted.
The sources said the military leadership also showed a video film to the national leadership about how caves and mountains of Swat were bombarded.Parliamentary leader of Fata Muneer Khan Orakzai assured complete support to the military operation.
Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed also unveiled his Marshal Plan for the rehabilitation of the IDPs before the national leadership and said that there was a proposal to provide Rs 25,000 to the IDPs on their return to their homes.
The sources said Lt Gen Nadeem also told the national leadership that those people, whose homes were destroyed, would be provided compensation after a survey.According to a handout, the national political leadership on Friday reiterated its resolve to preserve and protect the sovereignty of the state of Pakistan, ensure the rule of law and carry forward the political process.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in a detailed briefing here at the PM House with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair, apprised the national political leadership of the operational aspects of the ongoing operations in the militancy-hit areas, and the steps being taken to minimise the collateral damage during the action.
The COAS also dilated upon the efforts being made to ensure the security and well being of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).The national leadership further recognised the role of the armed forces in the present situation and expressed its grief over the martyrdom of personnel of the armed and security forces.
In the in-camera briefing that lasted for five hours, the leadership also took note and emphasised that strategic questions regarding where, when and how many troops were deployed in each operation or sector was a Pakistani decision, based on objective analysis and full understanding of threat spectrum.
These decisions are undertaken in accordance with our national interest by our leadership, keeping in view the aspirations of the people of Pakistan, the leaders stressed.In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Gilani called for incorporating political dimensions, following the military operation in Swat and some other parts of Malakand to eliminate the militants and terrorists, in order to bring lasting peace to the area.
The prime minister said the armed forces were carrying on the operation with full commitment and high degree of operational professionalism. “I am well aware of the fact that the Army operation is not a permanent solution to our problem and political dimensions need to be incorporated to reach out a consensus for guaranteeing lasting peace in these disturbed areas,” he added.
He said the in-camera meeting had been organised to take the political leadership of the country into confidence on the real situation and answer their questions on the necessity of the Army action in Swat and the issue of the IDPs. He said after having exhausted all political and peaceful means, the government was left with no other option but to call in the armed forces to take stern action against the miscreants.
Gilani said as the government firmly believes that parliament is a sovereign body, therefore, taking the parliamentary leadership on board was essential. “I assure you that the input of the today’s (Friday’s) meeting, along with the suggestions/observations from the forthcoming APC, will be incorporated in our national security policy to deal with the situation,” he said.
The meeting was attended by PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Punjab Chief Minister and PML-N President Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, PML-Q Parliamentary Leader Ch Pervaiz Elahi, MQM Parliamentary Leader Dr Farooq Sattar, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan, PPP-S Parliamentary Leader Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Fata Parliamentary Leader Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, BNP-Awami Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Mir Israrullah Zehri, NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani, Chief Minister Mir Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Whip National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, ANP leader Muhammad Zahid Khan, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on National Security Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, PML-F leader Pir Sadruddin Shah, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Coordinator Special Support Group Lt-Gen Nadeem Ahmad, Maj-Gen Muhammad Zaheer ul Islam, DG-C ISI and DG Military Operations Maj-Gen Javed Iqbal.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
