By NNN-APP,
London : Pakistan Senate delegation has succeed in having adverse remarks about the South Asian country expunged from a draft report on Afghanistan which was presented before the Defense and Security Committee during the NATO-Parliamentary session held in the Scottish city of Edinburgh during the week-end.
A media release of Pakistan High Commission said the leader of Pakistan Senate delegation Senator Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari, currently visiting UK to attend NATO Parliamentary Assembly session, convinced its committee on Defense and Security to expunge remarks about Pakistan contained in a draft report on Afghanistan which came under discussion on the occasion of preliminary debate of 55th Annual Session.
NATO-PA is the inter-parliamentary organization of the legislators from 28 NATO member countries as well as 14 associate members.
Pakistan is attending the session under Observer status. The other members of the delegation include Senators Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Abdul Hasib Khan and Muhammad Zahid Khan.
A draft General Report on “Afghanistan: A Turning Point?” by Frank Cook (UK) General Rapporteur came under discussion by the Committee on the Defense and Security.
Pakistani delegation achieved a major success when Senator Bokhari was able to convince the Conference to expunge objectionable portion of the report.
Senator Bokhari vociferously objected to the reference in the report which states, “However, it remains unclear whether all elements of the Pakistani state apparatus have committed to co-operating and acting against violent militancy against groups active in Afghanistan”.
Senator Bokhari confronted the remarks by quoting countless sacrifices rendered by Pakistani armed forces and civilians in fight against terrorism.
He categorically stated that there should not be an iota of doubt over the will, resolve and commitment of Pakistan in its war against terrorism.
He said: ‘What else international community expects from us, when the militants have been purged out from Swat and Malakand and our armed forces are continuously pursuing them in South Waziristan.
Also every day our common man in the street is confronted with suicide bombings of worst nature.
We assure the international community of our resolve to address issues at our end of the border region, including the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) but at the same time would expect a better understanding by the international community of our peculiar circumstances where our armed forces and civilians are fighting against an invisible and resilient opposition.
However our recent strategic gains amply testify that Pakistani nation and armed forces are united in eradicating the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.’
Senator Bokhari, also drew the attention of the members towards the need for a long term and sustained commitment by both regional and international partners in Afghanistan.
He highlighted that nothing could be more devastating than to think of any scaling or letting down at this stage of war against terrorism as it will have serious repercussions for regional and global security in the shape of resurgence of Al Qaeda and associated terror groups.
‘Any slowdown in the resolve would send wrong signals which would lead to regrouping of terror groups. A similar premature pull out and desertion by the West in the after math of the cold war has led to a vacuum to be filled by the terrorist groups with global reach,’ the Senator argued.
Frank Cook, the author of the report, while appreciating the comments of the leader of the Pakistani delegation, confessed that this part of the report is the result of ‘in-attention’ hence requires updating.
He further stated that considering the valiant efforts of Pakistan’s armed forces and its people it would be unfair to question Pakistan’s commitment in its fight against terrorism.
Cook and other delegates described the inputs given by the Pakistani leader of the delegation as vital in making the report more balanced.
The Plenary Session of the Assembly is scheduled to be held on November 17.
Sequel to General Sir Peter Wall, Commander-in Chief, Land Forces, UK , presentation on Afghanistan , the delegation from Afghanistan raised the issue of ease of cross border movement between Pakistan and Afghanistan as a reason for creation of safe havens in Pakistan .
Responding to the question, Senator Bokhari, told General Wall that Pakistan has established more than 1000 posts across its border with Afghanistan but there has not been a matching response from NATO to increase the border surveillance.
General Wall agreeing to the Senators comments highlighted the topographical and capacity limitations of the Afghan government and NATO to man the long border. He stressed that it is not possible to completely seal the border and instead the focus should be on improving intelligence and information sharing.