The Parliamentary Committee on National Security on Tuesday expressed its resolve that all important decisions should be taken by utilizing collective wisdom and foreign policy be framed in consultation with all stakeholders. Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who chaired an in-camera session of the meeting, told reporters that members of the committee expressed the desire that all the stakeholders should be taken into confidence on foreign affairs as well as before making future foreign policy.

"A long-term foreign policy should be framed following taking all stockholders into confidence," he said. He said that the situation arising out of President Donald Trump's statement regarding the US Afghan policy, Pakistan's reaction to it and the visit of foreign minister to different regional countries also came under discussion in the meeting.

Sadiq said that committee discussed future strategy in the wake of Trump's tough talk against Pakistan. Some members have adopted aggressive stance while some have suggested opening the door of dialogue and negotiations to resolve the matter with the US, he said. "The resolutions of the National Assembly and Senate and statement of National Security Committee have given a strong message that Trump has made his statement in haste," he said.

He said the committee also called for putting own house in order, adding it was necessary to strengthen the weak areas within the country. He said that the committee will discuss National Action Plan (NAP) and matters related to the banned outfits in its next meeting. Sources said that Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua briefed the committee about the issues related to Trump's policy on Afghanistan and South Asia. While briefing the committee, she said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with friendly countries and Minister for Foreign Affairs has met with the high officials of China and Iran. "The reaction of China and Iran was encouraging for Pakistan," sources said while quoting Janjua as having told the committee. The sources further said that Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo said that Pakistan should change its interior and foreign policies. He further said that banned outfits are still working in Pakistan with new names and they need to be checked.

The committee headed by Ayaz Sadiq comprises the heads of both the houses of Parliament, MNAs Zahid Hamid, Syed Naveed Qamar, Imran Khan, Dr Farooq Sattar, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi, Ghaus Bux Khan Mahar, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Sahibzada Tariqullah, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Ijazul Haq, Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Engineer Usman Khan Tarakai, Iftikharuddin, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Syed Essa Nori, Alhaaj Shah Jee Gul Afridi, and Senators Mushahidullah Khan, Sherry Rehman, Dr Jahnzeb Jamaldini, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Hidyatullah, Talha Mehmood, Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail, Sirajul Haq, Mir Israrullah Khan Zehri, Usman Khan Kakar, Azam Khan Swati and Ilyas Ahmed Bilour.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017