LAHORE, Nov 29: Pakistan decided on Tuesday not to attend the Bonn conference on Afghanistan’s future next week in protest against the weekend Nato air strikes on military posts in Mohmand Agency.

The decision is being interpreted here as a direct snub to Washington because only on Monday a US State Department official had said it was important that “Pakistan attends this conference for the future and stability in Afghanistan”.

The decision to boycott the conference was taken at a meeting of the federal cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Governor’s House here on Tuesday.

The cabinet condemned the strikes and termed them an attack on the “sovereignty of Pakistan”.

The Nato attack on the military posts in Mohmand Agency on Saturday killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and plunged Islamabad’s already strained ties with the US to yet another low. The prime minister has stated there would no more be “business as usual” with the US and that the Pak-US relationship could continue only on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interest.

An official told Dawn that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar briefed the ministers on the Nato strikes, the government’s prompt response and the ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring to the notice of the international community the breach of Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty as well as international law.

“The cabinet agreed that unilateral actions like the May 2 operation by the US commandos to take out Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad and the Saturday’s attack in Mohmand were unacceptable,” the official said.

The decision against attending the Bonn conference scheduled for Dec 5 has come amidst growing protests against the Nato strike and increasing pressure by the opposition on the government to get out of the war on terror alliance with the US.

Mr Gilani announced at the meeting that he would convene a joint session of parliament after the finalisation of recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security to discuss the Mohmand attack, the official said.

In order to avoid what the official said “unsavoury” questions whose answers could further strain Pak-US ties, Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan was asked at the eleventh hour to cancel her usual post-meeting briefing to the media.

Instead, a cautiously worded statement was issued. It said Pakistan was looking forward to the “success of the Bonn conference. But in view of the developments (in the wake of the Nato attack) and the prevailing circumstances (it) has decided not to participate in the conference”.

The statement reiterated Pakistan’s support for stability and peace in Afghanistan and the importance of an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation. It expressed the hope that the international community would (also) reaffirm its support for peace and development in Afghanistan at the Bonn conference.

Mr Gilani, the statement said, took the cabinet into confidence on the decisions of the DCC and said “there could be no compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity or on the nation’s resolve to safeguard its frontiers no matter what the cost”.

It said the cabinet had unanimously endorsed the implementation of the DCC decisions – immediate suspension of the Nato/Isaf logistic supplies and asking the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase.

The cabinet supported the DCC decision to review Pakistan’s cooperation with the US/Nato/Isaf and regretted that despite Pakistan’s continued efforts to play a positive role for stability and peace in countering terrorism and militancy in the region, the sacrifices of the nation had not been recognised. “Actions such as these attacks were contrary to the spirit of partnership and business as usual was no longer possible.”

The cabinet urged the international community to take cognizance of such attacks, which violated the UN Charter and international law, and could have serious repercussions for regional peace and security. “It was imperative that all sides realise the gravity of the situation and exercise utmost restraint,” the handout said.