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ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: Pakistan on Monday said the objective of a possible dispatch of troops to Iraq would be to help bring peace to the war-torn country and stressed that when such a decision “is taken, it will reflect the overwhelming sentiment of the people of Pakistan”.
Answering questions about reported differences within the government on the issue, foreign office spokesman Masud Khan asserted there was no split between the armed forces and the civilian side on the likely decision “which, however, has not been taken yet”.
In reply to highly charged queries at his weekly news briefing, the spokesman confined himself to saying that the “basic objective” of sending troops was to be “helpful in bringing peace and stability to the war-torn country”.
Asked how the government would ascertain people’s sentiment, he pointed out that Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali was the leader of the house in parliament and he would take the decision together with his cabinet members only under the United Nation’s umbrella, or under the OIC, or any other “legitimate multilateral cover”.
The spokesman agreed that parliament could be a good measure to assess and judge people’s sentiments when asked whether the government would take parliament into confidence before deciding on the issue.
He indicated that the strength of the troops could be raised to a Pakistan Army’s division level from the initially proposed three brigades.
Rejecting suggestion about the differences between the civil and military authorities, he asserted that the entire government was functioning as one machinery and there was complete harmony on the issue. He stressed that the decision, when taken, would reflect complete harmony within the government and an overwhelming opinion and wisdom of the people and the government.
Masud Khan said Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not visited India at the government’s behest and added that he did not bring any message from Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for President Pervez Musharraf.
The spokesman told a questioner that Pakistan was in constant touch with the US administration, Congress and opinion- makers to abort a move by some congressmen to stop the promised US aid of $3 billion to Pakistan.
Agencies add: “The other factor is whether or not the people of Iraq will be hospitable to this kind of mission.”
The spokesman said Pakistan had “taken a decision in principle” to participate in an international stabilization force in Iraq under “certain conditions”.
“When I say a decision has been taken in principle, it means we shall be willing to send troops to Iraq but certain conditions have to be met,” he said.
He confirmed that Britain and the United States had requested two brigades of Pakistani troops to join forces in Iraq.
TERRORIST TRAINING CAMP: Pakistan asked India to dismantle terrorist training camps it has set up on its soil and stop anti-Pakistan activities through its consulates in Afghanistan.
“There are terrorists camps across the LoC and across Pakistan-India border and (we) hope India would dismantle its terrorist training apparatus,” the spokesman said while answering allegations of such camps in Pakistan.
Rejecting accusations of terrorists being trained in Pakistan, he said: “These are all lies, there is no substance to them”.
He attributed such allegations to the “demonizing campaign” by the Indian leaders and cabinet ministers against Pakistan.
The spokesman stressed on the initiation of a meaningful, purposeful and result-oriented dialogue between the two countries to resolve all issues, including the Kashmir dispute. He said the process of dialogue could help tone down the rhetoric and resolve the differences.
On the allegations of cross-border movement, he said Pakistan had done so much but did not receive any reciprocity, and referred to the unabated human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.
He said India should cease its anti-Pakistan activities through its consulates in Jalalabad and Kandahar.
However, he pointed out, these activities should not derail the peace process between Islamabad and Delhi. He hoped that India would come to the negotiating table as soon as possible.
On the recent tension on Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the spokesman said a sub-committee of the tripartite commission had already visited the Mohmand Agency and was in the process of finalizing its report. He said the commission had scheduled its next meeting in Bagram.
