US ties review may delay
ISLAMABAD — The process of rewriting the terms of engagement with the US is expected to be delayed due to the Pakistani government’s ongoing tensions with the judiciary and the military establishment.
The multi-party, bicameral parliamentary panel, which had been tasked to formulate new terms of cooperation with the US, will finalise its recommendations on Wednesday after several days of deliberations.
The final draft recommendations will be handed over to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who would then convene a joint session of parliament for their formal approval.
The review, however, is unlikely to be completed anytime soon in the wake of rapidly changing developments on the political front, sources said. A special session of both houses of parliament is unlikely to be convened in coming days as the gov- ernment grapples with the latest ruling by the Supreme Court on the implementation of the NRO verdict, sources added.
The review of ties with the US was earlier expected to be complete by the third week of this month, enabling the government to resume ‘business as usual,’ but under the new arrangements.
A military official also confirmed that the domestic political situation is impeding efforts to redefine the relationship with Washington.
The review of entire gamut of political, economic and military cooperation with the US was ordered in reaction to the November 26 Nato air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
The attack prompted Pakistan to shut down Nato supply routes and ordered the US to vacate a remote airbase in Baluchistan believed to be used by the CIA for drone attacks in the tribal belt.
An American diplomat said they are “anxiously waiting for the review to complete as we would certainly want to move on.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and the defence secretary briefed the parliamentary committee on the proposed draft recommendations.
Khar told reporters that the committee had accepted majority of the proposals finalised by the envoys’ conference held in the wake of Nato attacks.
In their recommendations, the envoys’ from key world capitals sought to scrap all existing anti-terror arrangements with the US.
They particularly called for renegotiating the two key pacts signed in 2002 by then-military ruler General Pervez Musharraf with the US. The accords related to the Nato supplies, logistic support to the US and air corridor for coalition forces stationed in Afghanistan. — Internews