October 11, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 23, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that he had made it clear to the US and British governments that “no imposed dispensation” in Afghanistan will be acceptable to Pakistan.

“Such a dispensation will be unworkable and could not last,” he observed, while briefing the federal cabinet here on Wednesday on the current situation relating to actions against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Official sources quoted the president as telling the cabinet that a broad-based government will be acceptable to Pakistan which represented all ethnic groups.

The federal cabinet decided to take serious action against those creating a law and order situation. It resolved to maintain order at all cost by firmly dealing with the law breakers.

According to official sources, the president told the cabinet that his government was supporting the US action in the larger national interest and that those trying to create a law and order situation will be taken to task.

The government would not tolerate the burning of government buildings and other facilities, he warned.

The president has summoned a special meeting of the inter- provincial committee on Thursday to discuss and adopt necessary measures for ensuring protection of government properties and maintenance of law and order in the provinces.

National security will be maintained at all cost and that violators of the law will not go unpunished, the president told the meeting, adding that he had taken a very serious view of the ongoing protests in which government properties were set on fire at some places.

The president also told his cabinet colleagues that Pakistan stood committed to providing airspace and logistics to the US-led military coalition and sharing of information with it.

However, the sources said, he informed the meeting that no airbase was provided to the US-led coalition to launch any attack on Afghanistan. He termed the action “very unfortunate”. “No military action is taking place with our support as no aircraft has flown from Pakistan’s airbase to attack Afghanistan,” the president was quoted as having told the meeting.

He said the action was not against the people of Afghanistan or Islam “as many people wrongly believed.” He said Pakistan never wanted the destruction of Afghanistan. But he regretted that the Taliban did not accept any rational or friendly advice that landed them in trouble.

“We do not want any harm to Afghan people,” he said, adding that it was a matter of record that Pakistan tried hard to the last but Taliban did not respond in a positive manner to avert the attack.

The president briefed the meeting about the current situation, especially his telephonic talks with President Bush and his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The president told the cabinet that President Bush had informed him on Sunday evening (Oct 7) about US air strikes against Afghanistan, the sources said.