PML-N asks government to devise rules of engagement with US: Panetta's remarks condemned

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has expressed concerns over threatening remarks of US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta against Pakistan and also called upon the government to formulate regular 'rules of engagements' with regard to Islamabad's ties with Washington.
"It is a source of concern for a sovereign country like Pakistan in a way the US is trying to build pressure for 'doing more' particularly when it has already suffered a lot due to terrorism," said PML-N's chairman Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, while speaking at a news conference, here on Monday.
He was commenting on the US Defence Secretary's remarks that Washington would do whatever it takes to defend US forces from Pakistan-based militants launching attacks in Afghanistan. He said that the world community must recognise the sacrifices Pakistan has made and suffered a lot due to war on terror more than any other country. He also criticised former President General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) for joining the war against terrorism without taking the parliament into confidence soon after 9/11.
Earlier, the PML-N leader urged the government to speed up its diplomatic channels to resolve the outstanding issue of Kashmir in the light of UN Security Council's resolutions. He said that UN General Assembly was in session and the government should have taken the friendly countries of Pakistan into confidence for raising Kashmir issue on the UN platform.
Raja Zafaral-ul-Haq urged the UN to take solid steps towards the progress on its resolutions and commitments with the people of Kashmir pertaining to resolution of the decades-old dispute, which is vital for durable peace in the region. He also called upon the OIC to raise the Kashmir issue on the UN platform and support the Pakistan's stance in this regard. He was of the view that the Kashmir dispute could only be resolved if the aspirations of the people of Kashmir are taken into account.
About the India's move to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the PML-N leader said that a country should not be given its permanent membership of UNSC, which is reluctant to abide by its resolutions. Referring to election on seat vacated by PML-N's AJK leader Raja Farooq Haider in Muzaffarabad, he urged the chief election commissioner AJK to ensure free, fair and transparent election on the vacant seat. About the resettlement of the affected people of Mangla Dam Raising Project, the PML-N leader lamented that the central and the AJK government were not paying heed to resolve the issue of the resettlement of the affected people.