MQM DEMANDS FORMAL
APOLOGY FROM THE US OVER NATO ATTACK
MQM DELEGATE LODGES PROTEST WITH GEN MARTIN DEMPSEY OVER THE NATO
ATTACK IN A FORUM OF ATLANTIC COUNCIL
WASHINGTON: 10TH DECEMBER 2011
Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has strongly condemned and protested over the attack on border posts of Pakistan Army in Mohmand Agency by the NATO forces resulting in the martyrdom of Pakistani soldiers and officers. It has demanded a formal apology to Pakistan from the US on the incident.
This demanded was made by Patron In-charge of the MQM USA and CANADA Mr. Ibad ur Rehman while talking to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces in a forum convened by the Atlantic Council in Washington DC. Scholars and representatives of various think-tanks and NGOs were also present in the forum.
The MQM delegate Ibad ur Rehman put forward the MQM viewpoint forcefully and said that even though the Obama administration, the civil and defense officials of the US and the NATO had expressed regrets over the attack on Pakistani forces, no formal apology was made over this serious incident. It was being said that the investigations were underway but even the investigations were not completed as yet.
General Martin E Dempsey shed light on the various aspects of relations between Pakistan and US and the current situation while speaking in the forum. He said that the attack on the Pakistani post was not planned and premeditated. He assured the audience that the investigations were continuing, and they would be completed soon.
Mr Rehman said that even if the attack was not premeditated it was a serious incident because 24 troops were martyred in the attack. The US must offer a formal apology on it as it was unendurable for the people of Pakistan.
Mr Rehman also presented a memorandum to General Dempsey against the NATO attack on the Pakistani border posts in Mohmand Agency. It says that the unilateral actions by the NATO and US forces had rapidly shifted anti-extremism sentiments into anti-American feelings in the region.
It says that there was a general impression in Pakistan that the US forces had no respect for the life of Pakistani people, including the soldiers. The unfortunate incident has seriously harmed, if not completely destroyed the deeply troubled relations between the two supposedly friendly nations. It further says that the United States needs Pakistan’s co-operation to pursue the fight against extremism, but the US leaders have failed to feel the public pulse.
It says that President Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have deeply regretted the NATO attack yet all have refused to apologize. This must change in the larger interest of the stakeholders.
It also urges upon General Dempsey to play his vital role for determining the circumstances that had precipitated the sad incident.