July 31, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 27, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 30: Strongly condemning the US missile attack in South Waziristan, Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmed of the Jamaat-i-Islami said on Wednesday that American assurances about respecting Pakistan’s sovereignty amounted to nothing.

Prof Khurshid said in a statement: “While the US was assuring Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of its respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty, its forces were continuing attacks inside Pakistan”.

Seeing no change in US policies, the Jamaat leader noted that more incursions were possible unless Pakistan reviewed its role in the war on terror.

He said that Turkey, Lebanon and North Korea were examples of having acted in their national interests by refusing to surrender to US demands.

He said the PPP-led coalition government was pursuing the policy of the Musharraf regime which was a complete surrender to US demands.

The JI leader alleged that the government had failed to safeguard national interests, and said that independence and sovereignty of a nation were respected only if it was prepared to defend it with determination and power, rather than through appeals.