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Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said Pakistan’s decision to boycott the Bonn Conference in protest against the Nato/Isaf attack and violation of its sovereignty, was final and taken collectively.
“How we can attend the conference when our sovereignty came under attack,” Gilani said while responding to callers from across the country in a live PTV’s Prime Minister Online programme.
The soil of Afghanistan was used against sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan, he added.
He said the decision of staying away from the Bonn Conference was taken after thoughtful consideration and after the meeting of the Federal Cabinet which also endorsed the decisions of halting Nato supplies and vacation of Shamsi airbase, taken by the Defence Committee of the Cabinet.
The decision was unanimous and taken with collective wisdom and keeping in view sentiments and aspirations of the people, he said adding, “If we sit in the Bonn Conference and another attack takes place then who will be responsible for that.”
“When German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked me to attend the conference, I told her that the matter is referred to a high powered Parliamentary Committee on National Security,” he added.
He said in his opinion, the decision to not attend the conference was in line with national honour, self-respect and dignity.
He denied that it was being considered to send Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Bonn.
Gilani said Pakistan can work with the United States, Nato and Isaf under a new agreement and by devising new rules of engagement.
“We have to formulate new rules of engagement and we can work under a new agreement.”
“How we can attend the conference when our sovereignty came under attack,” Gilani said while responding to callers from across the country in a live PTV’s Prime Minister Online programme.
The soil of Afghanistan was used against sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan, he added.
He said the decision of staying away from the Bonn Conference was taken after thoughtful consideration and after the meeting of the Federal Cabinet which also endorsed the decisions of halting Nato supplies and vacation of Shamsi airbase, taken by the Defence Committee of the Cabinet.
The decision was unanimous and taken with collective wisdom and keeping in view sentiments and aspirations of the people, he said adding, “If we sit in the Bonn Conference and another attack takes place then who will be responsible for that.”
“When German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked me to attend the conference, I told her that the matter is referred to a high powered Parliamentary Committee on National Security,” he added.
He said in his opinion, the decision to not attend the conference was in line with national honour, self-respect and dignity.
He denied that it was being considered to send Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Bonn.
Gilani said Pakistan can work with the United States, Nato and Isaf under a new agreement and by devising new rules of engagement.
“We have to formulate new rules of engagement and we can work under a new agreement.”
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