New terms of engagement with US ready: Committee in a fix over impact of aid cut

By Ahmad Hassan in Dawn, Jan 5

ISLAMABAD, Jan 4: The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) said on Wednesday it had almost completed its work of preparing recommendations for new terms of engagement with the US in the war on terror. But it said it was undecided about how to deal with the impact of possible stoppage or suspension of foreign aid.

Talking to reporters after an in-camera meeting of the 17-member committee, its chairman Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said: `We will finalise the draft of recommendations with the help of the committee secretariat, but it will be subject to lastminute changes after a briefing by the finance minister and officials on Thursday.

He said the recommendations would be presentedto parliament.

Senator Rabbani said the ministries of defence and foreign affairs would be invited to give their opinion before the handing over of the recommendations to the prime minister who would present them in a joint sitting of both houses of parliament at an appropriate date.

The PCNS was asked by the government to propose new terms of engagement with the United States, Nato and Isaf after 24 army personnel were killed in a Nato attack on two Pakistani border posts in Mohmand Agency on Nov 26.

In its first meeting on Dec 31, the committee prepared a 30-point draft envisaging a complete overhaul of Pakistan`s diplomatic, economic and military cooperation with the US.It has since held four meetings and studied written and unwritten agreements with the US and Nato/Isaf. The committee has been briefed by the ministries of defence and foreign affairs.

Senator Rabbani said the committee had studied the recommendations of an envoys` conference, details of agreements and the national political situation and international developments.

Senator Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, a member of the committee, said he was fully satisfied with the committee`s proceedings and all recommendations had been adopted unanimously. Their implementation would bring about a positive change in Pakistan-US relations, he said.http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/05/new-terms-of-engagement-with-us-ready-committee-in-a-fix-over-impact-of-aid-cut.html