Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit made it clear that PCNS proposals did not envisage any major shift in relations with Washington. – File Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: A joint session of parliament is likely to be convened next week for ratifying recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) relating to a review of ties with the United States in the aftermath of Nato border attacks that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

Parliament`s nod would set the ball rolling for resumption of ties with Washington that have been frozen since the federal cabinet, on the recommendation of its defencecommittee, directed the PCNS to re-evaluate the intricate relationship and suggest parameters for sustainable ties.

PCNS has prepared 35 recommendations and submitted them for approval by the joint sitting of parliament.

The PCNS advice, though not officially released yet, calls for restructuring relationship with Washington on the basis of `mutual respect and mutual interest` and developing closer bonds with China, Russia and the Muslim bloc.

At the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit made it clear that PCNS proposals did not envisage any major shift in relations with Washington.

`It is our belief that the parliamentary process, which is currently under way to finalise the terms of engagement from our side, will lead to a positive outcome for both countries.

In the next step Pak-US dialogue would commence for defining the fundamentals of the relationshipwhich have hitherto been based on secret pacts.

US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman is likely to visit Islamabad later this month for parleys in which Pakistan would also seek guarantees that its `sovereignty would be respected and there would be no repeat of the Salala-like attacks in future`.

The spokesman said: `We want Mr Grossman`s next visit to Pakistan to be productive.Mr Grossman had to skip Islamabad during his latest trip to the region because the Pakistan government declined to welcome him pending the parliamentary review.

The Foreign Office is upbeat about the prospects of normalisation of ties with the US.

`We are looking forward to reengaging with the US on issues of mutual interest and importance, the spokesman said.

The whole exercise, as per the original plan, is intended to be com-pleted by the end of this month, if all goes well.

The first step that Islamabad would take following an agreement with the US would be to reopen the Nato supply route that has been blocked for almost two months now.

The government had reacted to the border incident by closing down the crucial supply route and asking the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase, which was once used for drone attacks. The airbase was vacated within the deadline given by the government.