MPs’ panels to discuss situation after US pullout from Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentary panels of the National Assembly and Senate are separately taking up the burning issue of Afghanistan and the impact of the withdrawal of US troops from the neighbouring country on Pakistan and the region.

The National Assembly standing committee on foreign affairs holds an in-camera session on July 8. It will discuss and will be briefed on the assessment of the current situation in Afghanistan; the impact of the US announcement of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan; the status of the reconciliation offered by ex-ambassador Muhammad Sadiq; and Islamabad’s concerns over the evolving situation in Afghanistan.

Similarly, the Senate standing committee on foreign affairs meets on July 9 to gauge the impact on Pakistan and the region of the US drawdown in Afghanistan and get a briefing on the overall relations with important countries.

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have already comprehensively briefed the top parliamentary leaders about the Afghan situation with a particular reference to the US pullout and its effect on Pakistan. Another similar briefing is expected soon.

The politicians expressed satisfaction over the briefing and spoke with one voice. The briefing was arranged to present a correct picture of the situation and what it entails for Pakistan and the region. Islamabad is preparing to deal with the aftermath of the US action so that it is not affected too seriously by it.

This is the first time that the committees of the two parliamentary chambers are taking up the Afghan situation and the potentially dangerous scenario in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly standing committee on communications meets on July 8 to get a briefing on an amount of Rs128 billion that was transferred by the Pakistan Post Office from one bank to another, the terms and conditions under which this amount was shifted, on whose directions and during which period this amount was moved along with its profit. The committee will also get details of the motorways completed from 2013 to 2018 during the government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N); details of new motorways whose contracts have been awarded from 2018 to 2021 by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government along with the dates of the award of contracts and the commencement and completion of each project. The members of the National Highway Authority (NHA) Sindh and Balochistan will hold further discussions in the forum on the Shahdadkot bypass and the Khuzdar Road.