Nato attack: US Centcom report rejected by DCC?

The Defence Committee of the Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday took a decision on the US Centcom inquiry report about Silala attack on November 26, 2011 that killed 24 soldiers and injured several others.
The official statement about the meeting stated that the DCC was briefed on the US Centcom inquiry report by the DG Military Operations with a comprehensive analysis and the meeting also elaborated on Pakistan's position on the report while it decided that response would be shared with all the concerned shortly.
When contacted, an official neither confirmed nor denied reports that the DCC had rejected the Centcom report on the incident. Sources said that when the media reports that DCC rejected US Centcom were brought into the notice of Secretary Defence, Nargis Sethi, her response was that the statement issued by the Prime Minister Secretariat was the official stance. The meeting was reportedly convened to discuss one-point agenda to deliberate on the US inquiry report.
The Prime Minister in his opening remarks stated that Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity was non-negotiable, adding that the nation's strength was its institutions and all endeavours would be undertaken to enhance their effectiveness and capacity.
According to him, it is a matter of immense satisfaction to him that the DCC has held regular meetings and deliberated on all important matters relating to safeguarding Pakistan's security. The decisions taken by the DCC have guided the government in steering the court in a particularly difficult phase, given the complexity of the regional and global environment, he added.
"It has been our consistent endeavour to safeguard Pakistan's supreme national interests in the most effective and inclusive manner. Terrorism and the continued strife and conflict in Afghanistan have impacted directly and severely on Pakistan," he said adding that thousands of people, officers and jawans of the armed forces and security personnel become victim to terror and militancy. Pakistan has achieved notable successes in dealing with the menace of terrorism in our national interest, he maintained.
According to Gilani the government and Parliament and above all our patriotic people have stood fully behind the brave armed forces and security personnel and there is a complete national consensus that terrorism will not be allowed any space on the sacred soil of Pakistan.
Pakistan has also been co-operating with the international community and its co-operation is based on a "partnership" approach, which entails mutual respect, trust and mutual interest. Pakistan's contribution and steadfast commitment to stability and peace at home and in the region is unquestionable and second to none.
The Prime Minister said that following the Nato/ISAF attacks on the country's border posts on November 26, 2011, the DCC took clear decisions, which were subsequently endorsed by the Cabinet and the Parliamentary Committee on National Security was entrusted to formulate recommendations for consideration by the Parliament. The Committee held several meetings and its conclusions and recommendations will be considered by the Parliament.
Gilani said that a full review of the terms of co-operation with US/Nato/ISAF is in process and decisions in this regard would be in line with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan and go a long way in preserving and protecting country's national interests and promote peace in the region.
According to the prime minister, Pakistan is a peace-loving country and committed to forge good relations with all neighbours and the international community. Pakistan will continue to play a responsible role for promoting global and regional peace and security. "Our record in international peace keeping has been appreciated by the international community on a number of occasions," he added.
The Prime Minister said that national unity is the need of the hour and democracy provides avenues to forge national consensus. Each organ and state institution has to play its due role, within its respective domain, to bring forth the best in promoting Pakistan's national interest, added Prime Minister.
Gilani said the armed forces of Pakistan are a pillar of the nation's resilience and strength. The nation applauds their heroic services in the defence of the motherland. Similarly, the civil institutions have their due role to play for socio-economic development and for ensuring progress and prosperity. Together in complete harmony with each other and other vital institutions, we can change the country's destiny and accord, its rightful place in the comity of nations.
According to him, it has been the government's policy to allow and enable all state institutions to play their role in their respective domains for the common good of the people of Pakistan. It is this desire to set good and healthy democratic traditions that has enabled us to always seek strength from the Parliament, which is the hallmark of a democratic government.
The Prime Minister said that record attendances of the National Assembly and more than 100 Cabinet meetings are testimony to the government's commitment towards strengthening democracy in the country. In the same vein, timely Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet meetings and regular meetings of the DCC with the co-operation of all institutions have gone a long way in achieving consensus on important issues. He said that forums for inter-ministerial and inter-agency consultations and co-ordination, such as the DCC and the Cabinet exist and are functioning smoothly.
The Prime Minister stated that the nation's strength is its institutions and the government would do everything to strengthen the institutions with a view to enhancing their effectiveness and capacity. There should be no ambiguity on this account.
The meeting of Defence Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has started at the PM House on Saturday, which is being attended by Senior Minister for Industries and Defence Productions, Minister for Defence, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Interior Minister, Information Minister, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Army Staff, Air Chief, Naval Chief, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Director General of Intelligence Bureau.