Senate chairman rejects Tillerson's statement, calls it 'unacceptable'

E-Paper | June 15, 2026

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Tuesday expressed concern over the statement made by United States (US) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Afghanistan a day earlier.

"His [Tillerson] tone and tenor are not acceptable," the Senate chairman declared. "His statement came one day before his visit to Pakistan. It seems like a viceroy told Tillerson what to say [on his visit]."

He also summoned Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif to appear before the Senate on Wednesday and inform about the "US demands". He said that the Parliament and Senate have been kept in the dark about the conditions that were laid down by the US.

He also suggested that Tillerson should read the resolutions and recommendations passed by the Parliament "so he knows what [Pakistan's] reaction is".

In a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Monday, Tillerson had said that Pakistan "needs to take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organisations that find safe haven [in the country]".

He arrived in Pakistan earlier in the day and held meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and other top officials.

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Nadir Guramani is a journalist and anchorperson for Dawn News (TV) with 17 years of experience. His reporting covers parliamentary affairs, foreign policy, politics, climate change, and human rights. He can be found on X at @nguramani.

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Abid Rehman

Oct 24, 2017 06:25pm

We should make our defense one of the strongest in the world. Then everyone will listen to us. And say we are right even if we are wrong.

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KAZIM REZA

Oct 24, 2017 06:59pm

Yes you are correct. Whether the Pakistan military is convinced>

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Exlim

Oct 24, 2017 07:02pm

Tillerson is rightly pointing out facts that we seem to deny as a knee jerk reaction. Extremist simpathizers are a plenty every where. Just look at mainstream religious political parties, educational institutions, media and lawyers.

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myview

Oct 24, 2017 07:04pm

Of course truth hurts at times

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Shahid Sattar

Oct 24, 2017 07:10pm

Thank you Mr. Rabbani for giving a befitting reply to the American secretary of state. Our government too must take a clear stand on the issues involved and reject anything said by the U.S. secretary or anyone else to belittle or to malign Pakistan's efforts in helping Afghanistan to overcome its crises which are not of Pakistan's making but the doings of the world's only super power.

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Gopi Chari

Oct 24, 2017 07:16pm

This is the beginning of the end of the Kashmir problem! This is also the beginning of the total change in PAK international Policy!!!

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Ayub

Oct 24, 2017 07:29pm

Your rejection is irrelevant. As you understand very well that the country's strategic policies are formulated and approved somewhere else.

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Taimur Khan

Oct 24, 2017 07:30pm

Tillerson is not only aggressive, he is clearly offensive. As regards religious tolerance, repeated incidents of violence against Muslims in USA should remind Tillerson of where American Society stands today.

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Changez Khan

Oct 24, 2017 07:36pm

Well done Raza Rabbani. No more do more.

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syed ahme d

Oct 24, 2017 07:44pm

Beggars arn't choosers. Firrst be respectale, then expect some.

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Gulshan

Oct 24, 2017 08:09pm

Senate chairman would have served Pakstan well, if instead of jumping on tillerson, he would have advocated dismantling so called strategic terror assets across Pakistan.

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Karachit

Oct 24, 2017 08:16pm

I hope Ex President Asif Zardari can say "same" thing.

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Desi Dimag

Oct 24, 2017 08:18pm

The tantrum will not work this time.

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sajed syed

Oct 24, 2017 08:22pm

Mr. Raza Rabbani is creating importance for himself while knowing very well nobody gives a damn to ineffective ceremonial senate.

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Ash20

Oct 24, 2017 08:37pm

When own establishment do not care about parliament or its resolution then why foreigners care about it. Senator should also ask questions why terror network is supported whether Haqqani or JUD or LET or similar.

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Farrukh Hussain

Oct 24, 2017 08:40pm

If he has met with our General then take it easy, cool bro!!!

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Akram

Oct 24, 2017 08:54pm

Pakistan should not waste time with the trump administration, they are clueless about how to behave internationally. They have no idea how to get what they want, instead it would be better to string them along giving them trinkets they think they have earned. With any luck trump will be gone soon anyway. He has made a lot of enemies in the US as well as abroad.

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Last Word

Oct 24, 2017 08:54pm

Pakistan should come out clean on its stand on Afghan Taliban as its policy of remaining in denial is likely to boomerang as US is no mood to accept it this time.

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John

Oct 24, 2017 09:05pm

Pakistan should immediately put economic sanctions on US.

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R Sultan

Oct 24, 2017 09:05pm

USA-Pakistan relationship needs reinvigorating.

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ali_khan

Oct 24, 2017 09:35pm

@Abid Rehman Who will pay ?, America?

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Naseer

Oct 24, 2017 09:43pm

@Abid Rehman just strong militarily is not enough, it should be backed by economic clout as well!

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Aamer

Oct 24, 2017 09:48pm

We cannot make the world realize until we ourself don't give any importance to our Parliament and Senate. We shall have to engage political system to thawrt down the suspicions within our country.

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Khanm

Oct 24, 2017 10:12pm

What acceptable and what is unacceptable is a function of so many factors...none of the factor points towards acceptable...dear sir with due respect...what is unacceptable has been made acceptable and what is acceptable is being made unacceptable within our own country...look around u will find it everywhere. Fortunately it was in our control...when we cannot control within how would u control external forces...

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Dr Nasir

Oct 24, 2017 10:25pm

We should teach a lesson to USA

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M. Asghar

Oct 24, 2017 10:55pm

Just have good relations with USA as with other countries of the world, but looking after its own interests clearly.

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Sultan

Oct 24, 2017 11:20pm

@Abid Rehman where from we will get money. China may be?

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Khurram

Oct 24, 2017 11:23pm

@Abid Rehman “We should make our defence strongest in the world” That requires money, that’s what is missing and that’s why we have listened to US so far. If you think China solves that problem then that’s also wrong, because China gives us loan that needs to be paid back with interest. That leaves us to generate our own money but for that we need trade, but we don’t have favourable trade agreements with anyone including China. So, hard luck, problem at hand is a lot harder.

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Tariq mehmood

Oct 24, 2017 11:57pm

To acknowledge sacrifices against war on terror Pakistan should be made permanent member of the UN Security Council. Regards

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Dr:Azhar Watali

Oct 24, 2017 11:59pm

@Abid Rehman 100%Right

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Oct 25, 2017 12:32am

So what did he say that was untrue? Or does the truth hurt, old man?

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Common voice

Oct 25, 2017 02:32am

When country's senior leaders and politicians are divided then foreign countries come at you and boss around.

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AHAQ

Oct 25, 2017 02:52am

What else can the opposition do get attention?

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daanish

Oct 25, 2017 03:13am

That's the best thing Democracy offer All nation is with the Senator. No one can bully us.

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MALIK

Oct 25, 2017 04:03am

He also summoned Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif to appear before the Senate on Wednesday and inform about the "US demands". Does Mr. Rabbani has any role in the foreign policy of Pakistan? His job is to sit there, and listen to all the boring speeches, and once in a while impose some rules. By the way, when Capt. Safdar delivered an incendiary speech recently, I had not heard any of his comments.

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Khan

Oct 25, 2017 05:11am

@Abid Rehman Very good suggestion .. so how about we start with spending more on education and population control, to develop most things indigenous? With the rote education system in govt schools, we can get nowhere in a trillion years. If we clear the society of all these so called banned organizations and not let few people going to neighboring countries, create anarchy we might get some respect from rest of the world very soon.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Oct 25, 2017 05:51am

Khwaja Asif, the foreign minister of Pakistan, must respond to the Senate's chairman call an brief the Senate members on his recent American visit.

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Python

Oct 25, 2017 06:50am

Outsiders should talk to 1.COAS or 2. Prime minister or 3. Senate chairman.so many power centers in Pakistan.

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Bhavin

Oct 25, 2017 07:17am

@Abid Rehman Defense without development has no meaning.

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Amjad

Oct 25, 2017 07:32am

Strong defence and strong economy are the only saver.

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Vincent

Oct 25, 2017 07:38am

@Abid Rehman Say we are right even when we are wrong? Seen it for long enough. How can we survive like this. Can't we live normally like other countries?

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Syed Anjum Ali

Oct 25, 2017 07:58am

Poor Mr Rabbani and the ineffective Senate. Even the NA, present PM and all the Cabinet are only puppets in a sham democratic system with the strings being pulled by some other forces. These forces are always ready to bully and supress Pakistanis but always bow low before the US.

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Amir Ali Khan

Oct 25, 2017 10:23am

International politics is all about protecting national interests . Pakistan must do whatever is necessary to protect its own national interest . This country has suffered far too much for far too long . It's time to say enough is enough .

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Ali

Oct 25, 2017 07:33pm

@Exlim extremists are everyone. even in europe in recent elections extreme wing organizations have won, most recently germany, new zealand, austria etc. why only prosecute Pakistan? also look at trump who is extreme is everything ...his positions and morals

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MIR AHMED Ali

Oct 25, 2017 08:57pm

Yes We should. be Militarily strongest,self made, strong Economically also.All can only be achieved with Honesty ,Rule of Law & Good Governance.

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anwarsher

Oct 26, 2017 07:23am

@Taimur Khan Please check you data. There is no discrimination against any group in USA.

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anwarsher

Oct 26, 2017 08:59am

The military will never consult with Raza Rabani if it decided to make a deal with the US. Clearly Raza Rabbani and Abbasi, etc, are being used.

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