August 18, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 4, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Relations has urged the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) to find out alternate means of conflict resolution instead of total reliance on military options in order to lessen armed confrontations in various parts of the world.

The committee in its report on ‘Nato’s role in Afghanistan’, has asked the organisation to adopt political ways to ensure peace and security in the region.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, said on Friday that the report had asked the Nato to review its policies towards Afghanistan. He said during a meeting with the representatives of the Nato parliament held in Brussels, the committee had conveyed its reservation on the organisation’s role in Afghanistan.

Mr Mushahid said the committee had highlighted indiscriminate bombings of Nato forces that had killed civilian people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The committee had demanded compensation from the organisation on losses of civilian causalities, he said, adding that the Nato’s secretary general had promised to consider the issue.

Mr Mushahid said the report was based on the visit of a Nato’s delegation to Pakistan on the invitation of the committee. He said since its inception in April 2004, the committee had so far issued 20 reports on important subjects of foreign affairs.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said the committee would also organise a seminar on ‘Nato’s role in Afghanistan’ in Pakistan next year.