ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: Senators on Tuesday called for a review of Pakistan’s role in the ‘war on terror’ and suggested the redeployment of troops from the country’s western border to the eastern border in the light of provocations by India.

Taking part in the discussion on security situation, they underlined the need for launching a diplomatic initiative to tell the world that Pakistan was a responsible country and expose ‘baseless allegations’ being hurled by India in the aftermath of the Mumbai carnage.

They rejected as a cock and bull story the claim by India that a group of 10 people had travelled on a boat from Karachi to reach Mumbai for carrying out the attack.

“How was it possible for a group of 10 to split and engage the entire security apparatus of a country for three days,” they questioned.

They also questioned the manner in which the United Nations adopted a resolution for sanctions on Jamaatud Dawa, saying the action had been taken at the behest of India.

They referred to some reports which claimed that China wanted to block the UN resolution, but it was allegedly persuaded by President Asif Ali Zardari not to do so. The senators asked the government to explain its position.

Leader of the Opposition in Senate, Kamil Ali Agha, expressed concern over the absence of Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN when the resolution was adopted by the Security Council.

He termed the arrival of an Interpol team to Pakistan alarming and said that the purpose of the visit was to implicate Pakistan in the Mumbai terrorist attacks. He said the US wanted to engage Pakistan on its eastern border to achieve its objectives.

Mr Agha claimed that new maps without Pakistan were being printed and urged the government to act wisely to protect sovereignty and integrity of the country.

Mr Wasim Sajjad said that Ajmal Kasab had been in India’s custody for nearly one month.

“Why have the names of his companions not been disclosed?”

He said that India was not ready to share any evidence with Pakistan and it was pursuing a coercive diplomacy. This should be countered by proactive diplomacy, Mr Sajjad said.

“They know that war will have disastrous consequences and will not remain confined to Muridke or isolated spots in Azad Kashmir. An all-out war will damage India more than Pakistan as they have a much bigger economy and massive foreign investment.”

Abdul Rahim Mandokhel said India was weaving a trap for Pakistan and a realistic approach was needed to handle the situation carefully. He said despite being in opposition, he did not agree with the contention that the government had shown weakness in its response to Indian allegations.

Seemin Siddiqui said India seemed to be hell-bent on imposing a war on Pakistan. She referred to a report in the New York Times, saying the US wanted to break up Pakistan.

Azam Swati said India had a history of ‘staging dramas’ to defame Pakistan, citing the hijacking of Ganga plane in 1971, attack on the Indian parliament in 2001 and the Samjotha Express tragedy. He said there were over three dozen liberation movements going on in India and elements from these movements might be responsible for the Mumbai attack.

Mr Babar Ghauri underlined the need for national unity to frustrate evil designs of India. He said that India, despite having a weak case and the absence of evidence, was blaming Pakistan for Mumbai attacks, but effective steps had not been taken to counter the propaganda.

Kamran Murtaza said the possibility of Indian agencies’ involvement in the Mumbai blasts could not be ruled out.

Dr Muhammad Zahid said Pakistan should immediately withdraw from the war on terror as it was ‘not in the national interest’.

Raza Muhammad Raza was of the view that had the Chief of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) travelled to India, Delhi would not have approached the UN Security Council. He urged the government to crack down on terrorists.

Dr Ismael Buledi said Pakistan was facing problems because of its flawed economic policies, adding that India was hurling threats on Pakistan at the behest of the US.

Dr Kausar Fardaus said war between India and Pakistan could lead to a nuclear war which would be more damaging for India than Pakistan. She stressed the need for relocation of Pakistan troops from the western borders to the eastern border.