ISLAMABAD, July 15: The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs called upon the government on Friday to reject and resist US policies that infringed Pakistan’s sovereignty and integrity, particularly unilateral actions in its territory and drone strikes.

A meeting of the committee presided over by Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, however, underscored the importance of maintaining good relations with the United States based on mutual respect and interest.

It affirmed the importance of safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and rejecting any tendency or approach that compromised national honour and dignity.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar briefed the committee on the latest global and regional developments and national political and diplomatic engagements.

The committee recommended that visa policy for foreign missions in Pakistan should be the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure a transparent mechanism protecting national interests.

The meeting noted with satisfaction the resumption of dialogue with India and emphasised that the process should be carried forward on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect and mutual interests, leading to concrete results.

It stressed the importance of the forthcoming ministerial meeting with India scheduled to be held in New Delhi in the last week of the month The committee called upon the government to implement the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and the resolution unanimously adopted by a joint sitting of both houses of parliament on May 13.

The committee adopted a resolution affirming the importance of an independent foreign policy in accordance with national priorities and interests. It praised the government’s resolve to move away from the concept of aid to trade.

The Senate committee noted with satisfaction the ongoing efforts to improve relations with Afghanistan and promote reconciliation and a peace process there.—APP