Pakistan MPs Slam US Presidential Candidates’ Statements
'Pakistan Times' Parliamentary Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Members of the National Assembly of Pakistan in its session on Tuesday called for an effective foreign policy in line with changing global scenario.

Taking part in the debate Mian Amin Aslam said that Pak-US ties are based on ‘love-hate relationship’ but for the last four months public concerns have increased due to certain negative developments.

He said US-Indo N-deal has given India a discriminatory status by the Bush administration which would disturb balance of power and start a nuclear arms race in the region.

He said it is indeed a matter of serious concern that despite Pakistan being in the forefront of war on terror, sacrificing its soldiers, the US administration has made its aid conditional to its future role in this war.

“It appears that debate between Republican and Democrats in US is revolving around Pakistan and Islam and the basis for US presidential elections is laid on anti-Pakistan and anti-Islam sentiments,” he added.

Amin termed US presidential candidates as bigger extremists in US and called for reviewing the country’s foreign policy.

Liaquat Baloch

Liaquat Baloch said that foreign policy should be formed on the basis of priorities and national interests with emphasis on forging of amicable relations with neighbours.

Terming country’s foreign policy as failure because, he said it was formed according to the wishes of certain foreign powers.

He said global terrorism theory is the brainchild of US administration and nothing else. “No one supports the terrorists events taking place in US in which innocent people lost their lives, but how these events occurred raised many eyebrows!” he added.

Baloch said when the Cold War was over, US started targeting Muslims and their religion, by sowing seeds of disunity and fomenting sectarianism in Iraq and Pakistan.

He said the people who fought against Russian invasion of Afghanistan were hailed as Mujahideen, but now they were being branded as terrorists.

On the other hand people of Kashmir and Palestine are not given their due rights, he added.

He said Pakistan offered full cooperation to US in its war on terror but the benefits are awarded to India and Afghanistan.

He urged for a review of the foreign policy according to changed global circumstances and asked that US aid should be rejected.

Yasmeen Rehman

Ms Yasmeen Rehman in her remarks said that Republican Tom Tancredo who made remarks about invading Pakistan’s territories should render proper apology.

She said on the other hand OIC has not reacted in a proper manner over threats of attacking the Holy sites.

She said in view of such a situation, time is ripe for Pakistan to lead the Ummah.

The US nuclear pact with India would disturb balance of power in the region, she added.

She stressed the need for transition of power to democratic forces in the face of looming internal and external issues.●