---- Nato attack kills 24 soldiers
----- US asked to vacate Shamsi air base in 15 days
----- Logistic supplies suspended
Pakistan on Saturday completely suspended Nato/Isaf logistic supplies and asked US to vacate the Shamsi Air Base within 15 days in the wake of unprovoked attack by International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Mohmand Agency, killing 26 Pakistani soldiers and injuring 13 others.
The decisions to this effect were taken in an emergency meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) presided over by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who postponed all his engagements in his hometown Multan and rushed to Islamabad following the incident. He took into confidence the leadership of all the political parties and met along with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar President Asif Ali Zardari ahead of chairing the meeting.
A statement issued after the meeting said that the DCC decided to close with immediate effect the Nato/Isaf logistics supply lines and also asked the US to vacate the Shamsi Airbase within 15 days in accordance with the resolution of the Joint Session of the Parliament of May 14, 2011. The meeting further decided that the government would revisit and undertake a complete review of all programmes, activities and co-operative arrangements with US/Nato/Isaf, including diplomatic, political, military and intelligence.
The emergency meeting of the DCC which was attended by Federal Ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Services Chiefs and members of the DCC, reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani people and Armed Forces to safeguard Pakistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity at all costs.
The meeting also decided that Prime Minister would take the Parliament into confidence on the whole range of measures regarding matters relating to Pakistan's future co-operation with US/Nato/Isaf. The DCC strongly condemned the attack by Nato/Isaf aircraft on Pakistani border posts in the Mohmand Agency. The meeting expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to families of brave soldiers who fought valiantly and embraced Shahadat, and also prayed for the early recovery of those injured by the Nato strike.
The DCC noted that strong protests had been lodged with the United States and at Nato headquarters in Brussels, conveying in the strongest possible terms Pakistan's condemnation of these attacks which constituted a breach of sovereignty. These attacks were also violative of international law and had gravely dented the fundamental basis of Pakistan's co-operation with Nato/Isaf against militancy and terror.
The DCC noted that Nato/Isaf attacks were also violative of their mandate which was confined to Afghanistan. Pakistan had clearly conveyed to US/Nato/Isaf its red lines which constituted an integral element of Pakistan's co-operation that was based on a partnership approach. The attack on Pakistan Army border posts is totally unacceptable and warrants an effective national response, the DCC added.