Pakistan military to attend all party meet to discuss ties with US

Representatives of Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies would attend the September 29 all party meeting called by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss the tense diplomatic stand-off with US and to decide a future course of action.

Leaders of all political parties, including those not represented in parliament, and heads of religious groups have been invited for the crucial meeting, official sources said on Monday.

Top officials, including representatives of the military and intelligence agencies, too will attend the meeting, the sources said.

"The meeting will discuss Pakistan-US ties and chart a future course of action," a source in the government said.

Gilani yesterday contacted leaders of different political parties to develop consensus on tackling tensions with the US triggered by accusations by American officials that the military-run ISI had backed the Haqqani network in carrying out a string of attacks in Afghanistan, including one on the US Embassy in Kabul.

The premier has held consultations with, among others, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat-e-Islami head Munawar Hassan.

Gilani also consulted religious leaders like Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair, president of Jamiat Ulema Pakistan, Pir Fazal-e-Haq of Jummiat-e-Mashaykh Pakistan and Sahibzada Fazal Kareem, chief of the Sunni Ittehad Council.