Approving new guidelines for resetting the country's troubled ties with the US, Pakistan's Parliament has asked the government to seek from America a civil nuclear deal similar to the one extended to India.
Approving new guidelines for resetting the country's troubled ties with the US, Pakistan's Parliament has asked the government to seek from America a civil nuclear deal similar to the one extended to India.
A resolution adopted unanimously late last night by a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate contended that the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement had "significantly altered" the strategic balance in the region.
It called for Pakistan to seek from the US and other countries a similar facility.
The resolution, which contained 14 recommendations made by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PNCS) for ties with the US and overall foreign policy, also said that Pakistan's strategic position vis-a-vis India on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty "must not be compromised and this principle be kept in view in negotiations".
Though most of the recommendations were related to Pakistan's ties with the US, NATO and International Security Assistance Force, some focussed on the relationship with India and regional issues.
It said the dialogue process with India "should be continued in a purposeful and result-oriented manner on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interest" and efforts should be made to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions.
The resolution on resetting the country's troubled relations with the US called for an "immediate cessation" of American drone strikes and an apology for the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a NATO air strike in November last year.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani assured Parliament that his government will ensure the implementation of the resolution on new rules of engagement with the US.
Observers said the move is expected to pave the way for reopening NATO supply routes to Afghanistan that were closed after last year's NATO air strike.
The resolution said Pakistan should be given assurances that such attacks or any other acts impinging on Pakistan's sovereignty would not recur.
The Defence Ministry and air force should formulate new flying rules for areas contiguous to the border with Afghanistan, it said.
No private security contractors and intelligence operatives will be allowed into Pakistan and the country's territory will not be provided for establishing any foreign bases, it said.
Referring to Afghanistan, the resolution said there could be no military solution to the Afghan conflict and "efforts must be undertaken to promote a genuine national reconciliation in an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process".
The joint session of the Parliament was prorogued after the adoption of the resolution.
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