Pakistan will step up diplomatic efforts to block a proposed US legislation that seeks the suspension of military aid if Islamabad fails to halt resurgent Taliban inside its territory.
The decision was taken at 'informal but regular internal consultations' between President General Pervez Musharraf and Pakistani envoys from key world capitals, who were here for discussions on major foreign policy issues, sources informed Business Recorder on Thursday.
Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Munir Akram, Ambassador to the US Mehmud Durrani, Ambassador to China Salman Bashir, High Commissioner to the UK Maleeha Lodhi and High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik attended the meeting.
Also there were Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, foreign secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan, high officials from military establishment and other security agencies. The move comes a day after three top Democrats in the US Senate introduced legislation calling Bush administration to link future military aid to Pakistan to the progress made by Islamabad in combating terrorism within its borders. The new proposed resolution is in addition to the earlier piece of legislation that is currently being discussed in the Senate.
If becomes a law, the proposed legislation-part of recommendations of 9/11 commission-would make it necessary for the US President to certify whether Pakistan is co-operating in the war on terror before approving any military assistance. The meeting reviewed the country's existing foreign policy in the backdrop of growing pressure on Pakistan to 'do more' in the war against terrorism, rising tension over Iran's nuclear programme and proposed anti-Pakistan legislation in the US Congress.
Sources disclosed that envoys first called on President Musharraf and then had 'extensive closed door deliberations' at the Foreign Office with Foreign Minister Kasuri and Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan in the chair.
During the meeting with President Musharraf, envoys gave their respective viewpoint on a number of issues. Pakistan's Ambassador to US, Durrani apprised the President about the developments taking place there in the wake of Democrats victory in the mid-term elections last year. The sources said Durrani called for concerted efforts to block the proposed legislation that if approved, could turn out to be second Pressler.
President Musharraf told the envoys and other high officials that he did express serious concern in talks with US leadership including US Vice President Dick Chiney about the proposed bill.
The President directed the Foreign Office to come up with a comprehensive strategy for ensuring pro-Pakistan lobbyists in Washington, so that such bills could be countered effectively, the sources further said. The sources revealed the consultations would continue today (Friday) in the foreign office.