ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: Pakistan declared on Wednesday that the change of command in the army would not have any effect on its role in the war on terror. Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Sadiq told a weekly news briefing: “There will be no change in our policy. Our participation in the war on terror is not related to the uniform issue in any way.”

He declined to comment on President Pervez Musharraf’s decision to step down as the Chief of Army Staff, saying it was not a foreign policy issue.

The spokesperson confirmed that the government was dispatching two groups of special envoys to Europe and the United States “to inform the host governments, the local legislators, the media and expatriate Pakistanis about the political developments in Pakistan.”

When asked if Pakistan had taken a decision on its association with the Commonwealth, the spokesperson said: “Common-wealth in its final communiqué has called upon Pakistan to remain positively engaged with it. We still have to discuss it and take a decision in this regard.”

To another query Mr Sadiq said suspension would not affect the country materially but Pakistan would not be able to attend the Commonwealth meetings. He maintained that all other programmes including the scholarships, technical assistance, visits, and participation in the games would continue.

The spokesperson said Pakistan had attended the Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis on the US invitation.

He disagreed with the notion that Islamabad’s participation in the conference could be seen as it sending a message of non-recognition to Hamas and thereby lending diplomatic and legal credence to the Government of Mahmoud Abbas. “The entire ME participated in the Conference. We have an embassy accredited to the Palestinian Authority. We are not sending any message to anyone.”