Pakistan blasts US Congress resolution

ALI HUSSAIN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday blasted the draft resolution submitted in US House of Representatives on Balochistan, as Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar described the move contrary to the principles of UN Charter, international law and long-standing Pak-US relations.

“Such an unfriendly and irresponsible attempt by a few individuals in Washington was aimed to create distrust between the people of the two countries,” said the Foreign Minister in a statement issued by the Foreign Office, in which she took a strong exception to a draft resolution submitted in the US House of Representatives on Balochistan.

A US Republican Representative Dana Rohrabacher Friday introduced a resolution calling for self-determination in restive Balochistan, saying Baloch people—divided now among Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan—should be allowed to choose their destiny. Congressman Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican, and Steve King, an Iowa Republican, have also signed as original co-sponsors of the draft resolution.

Reacting to the move Hina Rabbani Khar said that, though an isolated move by a few individuals, the Draft resolution was contrary to the principles of UN Charter and international law, adding that the Draft resolution was also against the very fundamentals of long-standing Pakistan-US relations.

She said that National Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution condemning a recent open hearing on Balochistan by the Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations. The National Assembly resolution had clearly represented the legitimate reaction of the people of Pakistan, she recalled.

She expressed the hope that this latest tendentious move will not be allowed to sail through the House by a vast majority of US Congressmen who supports friendly relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit while reacting to the adventure termed it as a ‘highly irresponsible attitude’, adding that the mover of the draft resolution is ‘oblivious to the situation on ground’ and also hoped the move will never succeed. He said that Pakistan has strongly reacted to tabling of the draft resolution in the US Congress, terming it a highly irresponsible and sheer violation of the international laws.

The spokesman further said that this was a self-serving attempt on the part of those who were driven by arrogance and ignorance alone, adding that the draft resolution shows utter disrespect for international norms and practices.