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The APC declaration rejected the recent assertions and allegations made against Pakistan and its spy agency- ISI. It said the Pakistani nation affirms its full solidarity and support for the armed forces of Pakistan in defeating any threat to national security. Tahir Ali reports.
The All-Party Conference convened at the behest of Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has issued a unanimous declaration saying that the allegations leveled by the United States against its spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence are baseless. The declaration says that full support would be given to the armed forces of Pakistan, as they are the defenders of the state's sovereignty.
Amongst the issues that the declaration has put forward is a new foreign policy. Pakistan wants better relations with its neighbors and a peaceful solution to the war in Afghanistan.
Yousuf Raza Gilani had invited leaders of Pakistan's political parties to discuss issues relating to national security. The conference was briefed by Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Director General ISI, Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha on the security environment of the country and the regional situation.
As a peace-loving country, Pakistan desires to establish and maintain friendly and cordial relations with all countries of the world on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and respect, the leaders unanimously resolved after lengthy discussions.
APC said it recognised there had to be a new direction and policy with a focus on peace and reconciliation. The party said that Pakistan must initiate dialogue with a view to negotiate peace with its own people in the tribal areas and a proper mechanism for this would be put in place. "Pakistan needs to further enhance its bilateral relations with Afghanistan at three levels on priority basis: government to government, institution to institution and people to people," it said.
The declaration said it acknowledged the sacrifices of the people and the security forces of Pakistan, especially the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas. However, it said that the international community needs to recognise these sacrifices as well as the colossal magnitude of destruction in Pakistan.
Pakistan can enhance its self-reliance comprehensively. Trade, not aid, should clearly be the way forward. The country should also focus on internal economic and tax reforms as well as resource mobilisation and the curbing of corruption, says the declaration.
Defence of Pakistan's sovereignty and its territorial integrity is a sacred duty that shall never be compromised. National interests are supreme and shall guide Pakistan's policy and response to all challenges at all times. Pakistan shall continue to endeavor to promote stability and peace at the regional and global planes, in accordance with the principles of the charter of the United Nations and international law.
All earlier unanimous resolutions of the Parliament, the recommendation of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on national security must be implemented, the declaration says.
The APC rejected the recent assertions and baseless allegations made against Pakistan. "Such assertions are without substance and derogatory to a partnership approach. The Pakistani nation affirms its full solidarity and support for the armed forces of Pakistan in defeating any threat to national security. A Parliamentary committee would be formed to oversee the implementation of earlier resolutions as well as this resolution and progress on the same be made public on monthly basis," says the declaration.