ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Pakistan has renewed its offer of full cooperation to India, including intelligence-sharing and assistance in investigation into the Mumbai attacks as well as setting up a joint investigation commission.
The announcement was made on Monday after a meeting of the defence committee of the cabinet, which reviewed the regional security situation in the backdrop of renewed Pakistan-India tensions.
The committee reiterated Pakistan’s resolve not to allow its soil to be used for any kind of terrorist activity anywhere in the region and the rest of the world, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said in a briefing for media.
The DCC instructed all departments to continue investigations based on information shared between India and Pakistan and other allies. It was agreed that all actions taken would be within the ambit of Pakistani law.
Official sources said the committee rejected as baseless allegations that Pakistan’s soil had been used to carry out the Mumbai attacks, stressing that the blame game should end because tensions between the two countries would not benefit any party.
The committee observed that “Pakistan is a responsible, democratic state committed to safeguarding national interests and fulfilling its international obligations”.
It said Pakistan rejected terrorism in all forms and recognised that action against terrorism was integral to its interests.
The committee said the security and stability of South Asia was in the interest of the peoples of the region.
It paid tributes to the political leadership for “forging national unity and consensus”.
The responsible role played by Pakistan’s media in reporting and commenting on the situation was also praised.The committee expressed confidence in the capability of the armed forces to defend the country’s sovereignty.
Those who attended the meeting, among others, were Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Information Minister Sherry Rehman, Adviser to the PM on National Security Mehmud Ali Durrani, the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Tariq Majid, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmad.
Agencies add: In reply to a question, Sherry Rehman said: “Pakistani media kept the country’s interests and the regional interest supreme and did not report anything that could lead to tension and contradictions.”
About Indian media, she said they relied on speculations and tried to fuel controversies. “A lot of their reports were based on hearsay.”
She praised leaders of different political parties for extending all cooperation to the government at a difficult time.
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