Pakistani panel asks gov’t to pursue Iran gas line

A Pakistani parliamentary panel has recommended the government to actively pursue the gas pipeline project with Iran. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security in its recommendations to the government also called for developing close cooperative relations with neighbors, deepening strategic partnership with China in all its dimensions and promotion of ties with Russia. The panel call for Iran gas pipeline came as Pakistani Parliament on Tuesday opened debate to reevaluate the country’s relationship with the United States and set new terms of engagement with the US and its NATO allies in Afghanistan. The Parliamentary Committee condemned the unprovoked NATO attack resulting in the martyrdom of 24 Pakistani soldiers, which is a breach of the international law, besides a blatant violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It said that the Government of Pakistan should seek an unconditional apology from the US for the unprovoked incident of Mohmand tribal Agency. The panel demanded that those held responsible for the Mohmand Agency attack should be brought to justice. “Pakistan should be given assurances that such attacks, or any other acts impinging on Pakistan's sovereignty, will not recur and that NATO/ISAF/US will take effective measures to avoid any such violations,” it said. The panel said that any use of Pakistani bases or airspace by foreign forces would require Parliamentary approval. It said that the Ministry of Defense, Pakistan Air Force and ISAF/US/NATO should draft new flying rules for areas contiguous to the border. The committee said that any consideration regarding the reopening of NATO/ISAF/US supply routes must be contingent upon a thorough revision of the terms and conditions of the arrangement, including regulation and control of movement of goods and personnel which shall be subject to strict monitoring within Pakistan, on entry, transit and exit points. It recommended that no verbal agreement regarding national security shall be entered into by the government, its ministries, divisions, departments, attached departments, autonomous bodies or other organizations with any foreign government or authority. “If any such agreement exists it should be reduced to writing immediately, failing which it shall cease to have effect within three months of the approval of these recommendations,” it added.