November 26, 2008	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 27, 1429

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 25: Pakistan on Monday offered to help the international community combat the menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia and the Red sea.

The offer to supplement United Nations’ efforts to combat piracy was made at a meeting between Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Adbullah Hussain Haroon and Belgian Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem and heads of UN peace-keeping operations.

They were discussing issues relating to the peacekeeping troops presently being deployed by the United Nations world over under the UN Security Council mandate.

Mr Haroon offered the help of Pakistan Navy to quell piracy provided a clear mandate was given by the UN Security Council, according to a press statement issued by the Pakistan mission.

He, however, made it clear that without UN-permitted involvement of the Pakistan Air Force to fly air support missions in the region from bases in the Arabian peninsula as well as financial arrangements, provision of technology, weaponry to its troops, who would serve under their own Senior Naval Commanders, Pakistan would not consider taking a lead role in the Somalian expedition.