ISLAMABAD, July 28: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Saturday took serious note of the American threats of attack and asked Islamabad to stop cooperating with Washington in the “war against terrorism” in case of a unilateral US/Nato military action across the border.

Earlier, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence had threatened on March 9 that Pakistan could end its cooperation with the US in the ongoing war against terrorism, if the US Congress passed any law or resolution imposing sanctions on Pakistan on the move of some Democrats.

The said legislation has now become a reality, which puts several conditions including certification by the US president that Pakistan had done enough in fight against the Al Qaeda and Taliban.

The committee also said that any unilateral military action initiated by the US would be unacceptable and it would provoke a popular backlash among the people that would be detrimental not just to the interests of Pakistan but also to the national security interests of the United States. “Senate Foreign Relations Committee concurs with the view of the president, PM and foreign minister that such statements emanating out of Washington are “irresponsible”.

The Committee further said that Pakistan should not be blamed for the failings and weaknesses of Nato and the US forces in Afghanistan, for, as an ally of the international community in the campaign against terrorism, Pakistan had gone the extra mile sacrificing nearly 900 of its soldiers and officers in Fata as well as deploying 85,000 troops in that area.

It urged the US to review and reassess its policy in the Muslim world so that the gap between its policies and the popular perceptions in the region can be bridged.

The Committee also criticised the US double standards and its South Asia policy, as, on the one hand, the American Senate had passed a law on Friday that was a painful reminder of the Pressler Amendment of 1985 where it sought to pressurise Pakistan by making US aid tied to certain conditions. On the other hand, the India-US nuclear accord was even violating laws passed by the Congress by promoting proliferation since it allowed nuclear testing and uranium enrichment.

The Committee said that representing the will of parliament and the sentiments of 160 million people of Pakistan, the nation was determined to preserve and protect Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity from any outside incursions, intervention or aggression. In this context, it is imperative that there should be a national consensus amongst all political forces on this issue.

Earlier, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with its chairperson Mushahid Hussain Sayed in the chair held public hearing from the experts on foreign policy and national security and observations made by the committee members.

A consensus prevailed in the discussion that Pakistan should review its cooperation on war on terrorism and formalise fresh foreign policy with focus on Muslim countries. Calling of a joint parliamentary sitting was also stressed for opening up the debate on Pakistan’s security issues with reference to its taking part in the international war on terrorism.

Former foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar in his analysis said, “We cannot afford to compromise our position on Kashmir, adding that all European countries except Britain were deadly against American designs in Afghanistan and Iraq while Nato involvement in Afghanistan is illegal and without UN sanction.

Mr Khokhar stated that the people of Afghanistan look at the American and European troops in their country as alien and undesired elements on their soil, fighting with which they take as a national independence war.

He said, “We must send a message to the Americans that we are not dying for their billion dollars and we can protect our national security out of our own resources”.

Dr Shirin M. Mazari alleged that the US was deliberately creating instability in Pakistan through its agents to get an excuse for direct action on Pakistani soil.

Referring to the latest US legislation binding the American president to certify that Pakistan was taking steps to open secular schools and taking on the Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives was severer than the Pressler amendment.

She called for retaliatory response to any US troops’ incursions shifting from the lame duck statements by the foreign office.

Eminent defence and foreign relations analyst Nasim Zehra was of the view that there was no immediate US attack threat with the possibility of sporadic incursions that have been routinely made in the past.

She said as long as US interests remain in the region it will need support from Pakistan and thus it will not resort to destabilise it. She called upon the government to explain to the common person the need of Pak-US collaboration.

She demanded of the government to shun dividing the nation into extremist and moderate terminology, which was harmful for the national unity. She said the government had not been able to prove its claim that there were some foreign militants holed up in the Lal Masjid or Jamia Hafsa premises.

She called for national conciliation and returning to genuine legitimate democratic setup to effectively resolve the issues that were plaguing the nation.

Sen Maulana Samiul Haq in his observation said that Gen. Musharraf was not alone in blaming for submitting to US dictates in the aftermath of 9/11 as vast majority of politicians had supported him in his policy when called for an advice on September 13, 2001.

He blamed Bush for meddling into Lal Masjid operation by describing it part of war on terrorism in his radio address, which resulted in killing of hundreds of innocent girls and boys.