March 1, 2003	Saturday	Zul Hijjah 27, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD Feb 28: Pakistan had taken no decision as of now on the latest joint draft resolution by the United States and Britain seeking a United Nations Security Council vote for war on Iraq, a senior foreign office official said here on Friday.

Additional Secretary Tariq Osman Hyder told a news conference here that the draft resolution was being discussed in the United Nations and indicated that all aspects of the draft were being studied.

However, he said, as a member of the Security Council, Pakistan had three options — vote for or against the draft or abstain. But no decision had been taken nor any signal had been given to the Pakistan delegation in the United Nations on that particular resolution, he said, adding that Pakistan’s decision also depended on the evolving situation and the United Nations weapons inspectors’ report expected on March 7.

Answering a question, Mr Hyder denied that Pakistan and the United States had made any offer to each other vis-a-vis the resolution seeking United Nations war authorization.

The additional foreign secretary confirmed that a senior delegation from Iraq President Saddam Hussein was in Islamabad with a special message for President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The delegation led by information minister Muhammad Said Al-Shahab included a former Iraqi ambassador to Pakistan Zafar Al-Gilani and Iraqi officials Talib Al-Wahabb and Ahmed Al- Shajar.

President Saddam’s message to the President, Mr Hyder said, presumably concerned the current situation arising from the Anglo- American threat of war on Iraq.

But he sought to clarify that the visit of the Iraqi delegation at a time when US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca was also in Islamabad, was a coincidence.

He said the Iraqi delegation was initially due earlier but was delayed because of the Eidul Azha and the NAM summit in Kaula Lumpur.

Mr Hyder said: “We will take a decision on principle” on the second resolution as it was a moral question whether such action (war on Iraq) is just or not.” However, he observed, that the centrality of the UN Security Council to maintain world peace was vital and emphasized the importance of multi-lateralism. At the same time, the need for Iraq to fully comply with the UNSC Resolution 4114 was also essential.

Mr Hyder also pointed out that there were a number of considerations which Pakistan had to keep in view while taking a decision on the issue of war on Iraq.

He said that Pakistan was also to coordinate its policy with those of China and Russia with whom relations were on the mend.

Also to be considered were such matters as domestic public opinion, the public opinion of the Islamic world, Pakistan’s relations with the European Union, Germany and France, concern for the people of Iraq, and also possible disruption of a large number of Pakistani expatriates in the Persian Gulf countries.