Muslim states’ backing to be sought: Kasuri: Sending troops to Iraq
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, June 28: Both US and Britain have asked Pakistan to send two brigades of troops for peace-keeping in Iraq, but Islamabad would like to send these troops under the umbrella of United Nations and after seeking support of the Muslim countries, said foreign minister Mian Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri here on Saturday.
“We do not want to see our troops being misconstrued as an occupational force instead a force for stability that has come to serve the people of Iraq,” Mr Kasuri said while talking to reporters here at the Parliament House.
Though no final decision has yet been reached, the decision would be taken after considering all pros and cons and ascertaining the support of the Muslim countries, he said. The deployment of Pakistani troops in Iraq should be considered as people’s friendly which has come to ensure rights to the Iraqi people, he said adding that Pakistan believe in the early restoration of people’s supremacy in Iraq.
Mr Kasuri said that Pakistan’s role from the day one remained positive which was evident from the fact that Pakistan opposed military action against Iraq and when the war started, we were the first to move a resolution in the United Nations Security Council for a UN cover.
Meanwhile, in a related development Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed warned that the opposition will resist with full force every move to send Pakistani troops to Iraq under the US command.
Qazi Hussain while talking to reporters at the Parliament House said that there was a consensus among the ulema that any death of a soldier while serving in Iraq would be a “dishonourable death.” He also threatened to boycott such families whose member would die in Iraq.
