Pakistani parliament unaminously demands end to drone strikes as condition of opening Afghan supply routes

The parliament also set other conditions for restoring relations with the U.S. and opening NATO supply routes through Pakistan to Afghanistan. Another significant condition was an unconditional apology for the air strike in November that killed two dozen Pakistani troops.

Chair of the committee that presented the 14 point recommendations Raza Rabbani said that all U.S. military incursions into Pakistan must cease including drone attacks. He said:“The U.S. footprint in Pakistan must be reviewed. This means, one, an immediate cessation of drone attacks inside the territory and borders of Pakistan," "Two, the cessation of infiltration into Pakistani territory on any pretext including hot pursuit. Three, Pakistani territory, including its airspace, shall not be used for transportation of arms and ammunition to Afghanistan.”

The recommendations go even further and demand an end to covert operations in Pakistan and demands that no private security contractors or intelligence operatives be allowed in the country. No doubt this is a reaction to the killing of an Afghan by a CIA operative.

While Pakistan may get an apology, it is highly unlikely that drone attacks will cease. In fact the U.S. has said they will not. The parliament has previously passed motions demanding drone attacks cease but they carry on anyway. In the past at least the attacks have been tacitly endorsed or allowed by government officials and targets have been set using Pakistani intelligence in all likelihood.

Prime Minister Raza Gilani said:“Madame Speaker, we are making history today. This parliament has proven time and time again that when it comes to matters of national interest we can and do come together,” The government has not delivered on such resolutions in the past and is unlikely to do in the future either. For more see this Voice of America article.

Meanwhile the Pakistani military continues trying to clear militants from border areas with Afghanistan causing a continuing humanitarian disaster as families flee the fighting to overcrowded refugee camps. An official from the UN refugee agency said that more than 200,000 people have fled the fighting in the Khyber district since January. See this article.

Rabbani: US Drone Attacks Violation of Pakistan's Sovereignty

This is from the DailyTimes (Pakistan).
No doubt the attacks are a violation of international law. The US is the global cop, judge, and executioner all in one and able to cause collateral damage and deaths with impunity. The Pakistan govt. objects constantly to these attacks even though the drones oftent take off and land at bases in Pakistan! Also, it seems that Pakistan has covertly urged the US to use the drones to try and assasinate Mehsud a leader of Islamic militants in Pakistan.




US drone attacks violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty: Rabbani
* Parliamentary committee chairman says parliament should send strong message to visiting US envoy * Says objections to committee’s pace will be negated Staff ReportISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on National Security on Monday termed US drone attacks in Pakistani territory against the sovereignty of the country and demanded an immediate end to such attacks.“The committee feels that since Richard Holbrooke, the special US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, is in the capital, a strong message should go from parliament that it will not compromise on its sovereignty,” Senator Raza Rabbani told reporters after chairing the committee meeting at Parliament House. He said drone attacks were counterproductive and the Pakistan government would take up the issue with the new US administration aggressively at every available forum. “The foreign minister will raise this issue with Holbrooke during their meeting,” he added.“Being a representative of a democratic government, we hope Holbrooke will respect the sentiments of Pakistan’s parliament. The committee has made it clear that drone attacks inside Pakistan are unacceptable,” he said. He said the committee had made substantial progress during Monday’s meeting and hoped it would finalise its interim recommendations by today (Tuesday). “I hope that these recommendations will be submitted before parliament in the forthcoming sessions of the National Assembly and Senate,” he added.Not slow: Rabbani said Senator Afrasiab Khattak had briefed the committee on the latest law and order situation in FATA and NWFP. However, he refused to share details with reporters, saying these were in-camera briefings. He also dispelled the impression the committee was moving at “a snail’s pace”. “We do not have a magic wand. It is a very complex, multi-faceted and multi-dimensional issue involving state and non-state actors. We are trying to prepare workable recommendations keeping all aspects in view. All objections in this regard will be diluted when interim recommendations come forward,” he added.To questions about the public flogging of a girl by Taliban in Swat, the senator said it was not appropriate to discuss this issue, as the Supreme Court had already taken it up. He said law enforcement agencies were also conducting an inquiry into the matter.