The resolution adopted after a day-long deliberations stated that such US assertions are without substance and derogatory to a partnership approach adding that; national interests are supreme and shall guide Pakistan's policy and response to all challenges at all times; Pakistan can enhance its self-reliance comprehensively. Trade, not aid, should clearly be the way forward. We should also focus on internal economic and tax reforms as well as resource mobilisation and the curbing of corruption.
The resolution also stated that as a peace-loving country, Pakistan desires to establish and maintain friendly and cordial relations with all countries of the world on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and respect. The APC recognised that there has to be a new direction and policy with a focus on peace and reconciliation. "Give peace a chance" must be the guiding central principle henceforth.
Pakistan must initiate dialogue with a view to negotiating peace with our own people in the tribal areas and a proper mechanism for this be put in place. According to resolution, We need to further enhance our brotherly bilateral relations with Afghanistan at three levels on priority basis: government to government, institution to institution and people to people.
The APC recognised the sacrifices of the people and the Security Forces of Pakistan, especially the people of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and tribal areas. The international community needs to recognise these tremendous sacrifices as well as the colossal magnitude of destruction in Pakistan.
According to resolution, Pakistan shall continue to endeavour to promote stability and peace at the regional and global planes, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. All earlier unanimous resolutions of the Parliament, the recommendation of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on National Security must be implemented.
The resolution stated that the Pakistani nation affirms its full solidarity and support for the armed forces of Pakistan in defeating any threat to national security. A Parliamentary Committee be formed to oversee the implementation of earlier resolutions as well as this Resolution and progress on the same be made public on monthly basis, the resolution recommended.
The conference was briefed by Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar and Director General ISI, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha on the security environment of the country and the regional situation. Earlier, Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha out-rightly rejected the allegations levelled by the US that the agency has connections with Haqqani Network.
Sources in APC told Business Recorder that during briefing of the D.G ISI, the political leadership raised various questions about the security, sovereignty, terrorism, Pak-US relation, defence strategy and foreign policy of the government on war against terror. Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Chief, Nawaz Sharif and Pushtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief, Mahmood Khan Achakzai strongly flayed the security policy of the incumbent government.
According to the sources, the DG ISI said that Haqqani network exists in seven provinces of Afghanistan. According to him Haqqani group has complete control on four provinces of Afghanistan while it has strong presence in the remaining three provinces.
The DG ISI said that there exists no Haqqani network in Pakistan's tribal areas, including Waziristan. In this regard, the US lacks any solid proof to substantiate network's presence in FATA. During the briefing, he said that the Pakistani military would not conduct any operation in any area of the country on foreign dictation or under foreign influence.
Answering a question, Shuja Pasha said that the ISI is not exporting terrorism, adding that rumours about the existence of Haqqani network Headquarters in Pakistan are baseless. Answering another question, he said that the internal security of Pakistan has been severely affected by the situation in Afghanistan.
Pasha also briefed the meeting about Pak-US and ISI-CIA relations. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif said that all decisions that are taken in this meeting should be presented in the Parliament for approval. He asked why the whole world is taking this matter seriously if there is no reality in the allegations levelled against the ISI by the US. Amir Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Munnawar Hassan interrupted Nawaz Sharif and asked him to try to appreciate the situation. This led to an exchange of hot words between the two leaders.
On this, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that he would remove all reservations of Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz Sharif asked whether Abbottabad incident on May 2, 2011 was not an attack on the security and sovereignty of Pakistan. "Are drone attacks not trampling the sovereignty of Pakistan?" Nawaz posed another question. He said that parliament has already passed unanimous resolutions on security policy and there is no need of a new strategy.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar briefed the APC about her meetings with US officials during her visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly session. She said she assertively presented Pakistan's case during her meetings and highlighted the immense sacrifices rendered by the nation in the war against terrorism.
She said that she gave strong response to US allegations on Pakistan during her visit. She also briefed the meeting about diplomatic efforts being made to defuse tension between the two countries. She made it clear that Pakistan foreign policy is not under the influence of America. Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan briefed the media on the salient features of the unanimously adopted resolution.
Talking to media after the APC, PTI chief Imran Khan said that the meeting agreed on a new approach to handle the situation. He said that ISI chief briefed the participants regarding Haqqani Network and rejected any ISI connection with it. He said that Haqqani Network has three groups and the ISI has no connection with them. Imran said the APC was aimed at strengthening the government at this critical time. "Time has come to give a chance to peace", he said.
Chairman of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the participants deliberated upon the foreign policy and it was agreed that there was a need to revisit the foreign policy and make it in accordance with the current needs of the country. He said the participants were briefed that Pakistan's armed forces and intelligence agencies have no connection with Haqqani Network, which is fighting inside Afghanistan and along the border. He further said that Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani briefed the participants pertaining to his recent meetings with the US military leadership.