We, have assembled together at Islamabad today, the 9th day of September, 2013, on the invitation of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, to discuss the national security crisis besetting our beloved Pakistan.

1.    We have been given detailed briefings by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Interior, the Chief of Army Staff and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence, regarding the internal and regional security situation. We have been distressed to note that the situation has continued to deteriorate over the last several years and past efforts to control terrorist and extremist elements have not yielded the desired results.
   

2.    We have also been perturbed to note the continued non-implementation of the important recommendations relating to national security contained in (1) the Declaration of All-Parties Conference organized by the JUI(F) on February 28, 2013, (2) the Joint Declaration of the All Parties Conference for Peace convened by the ANP on February 14, 2013, (3) the Resolution of the conference of the leaders of all the political parties convened by then Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on September 29, 2011, (4) the Resolution adopted by the Joint Sitting of Parliament on May 14, 2011, (5) the Consensus Resolution passed by the in-camera Joint Sitting of Parliament on October 22, 2008 and recommendations thereon of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) in April 2009 and (6) Resolution adapting the Guidelines framed by the PCNS passed by the Joint Sitting of Parliament on April 12, 2012.
   

3.    Having been briefed about the challenges confronting our nation-state, we are fully conscious of our historic responsibility as chosen representatives of the people at this critical juncture in our nation’s history to devise ways and means to promote peace and prosperity and restore Pakistan’s rightful place in the comity of nations. We are also aware of the aspirations of the people of Pakistan for the fulfillment of the promises made by the nation’s Founding Fathers for establishment of a sovereign state, secure in its boundaries and determined to promote “friendship with all and enmity towards none”.
   

4.    Having deliberated over the issues at length and in depth, we hereby unanimously resolve as follows:-
   

(a) The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan are paramount and must be safe-guarded at all costs. We reaffirm our complete trust and confidence in our valiant Armed Forces and assure them of our full solidarity and support in overcoming any challenge to our national security or threat to our national interests;

(b) Thousands of precious lives of innocent men, women and children and defence and security personnel have been lost in the war, the illegal and immoral drone attacks and the blow-back from actions of NATO/ISAF forces in Afghanistan. There has also been colossal damages to social and physical infrastructure and huge consequential financial losses and adverse effects on our economy. It is extremely unfortunate and matter of great regret that the immense sufferings and sacrifices of the people of Pakistan have not received due recognition from the international community. We pray for the “Shuhada” and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families for the loss of their loved ones. We call upon the Federal and Provincial Governments to provide all possible assistance for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of these families and other victims of terrorism, including internally displaced persons;

(c) We have noted with concern the continued use of drone attacks by United States of America in spite of clear and unambiguous protests by the democratically elected Government of Pakistan. We are unanimous that the use of drones is not only a continued violation of our territorial integrity but also detrimental to our resolve and efforts of eliminating extremism and terrorism from our country. The Federal Government should consider the possibility of taking the drone issue to the United Nation as drone attacks are a violation of International Law. We declare that we shall ourselves determine the means and mode of fighting this war in our national interest and shall not be guided by the United States of America or any other country in this regard;

(d) Peace, tranquility, stability and a tolerant and harmonious society are essential prerequisites for revival of the growth process for rapid socio-economic development. In the APC in September, 2011, it was declared that “Give peace a chance” would be the guiding central principle henceforth and that dialogue must be initiated to negotiate peace with our own people in the Tribal Areas. The APCs in February 2013 reiterated that attaining peace through dialogue should be the first priority. The Resolutions passed in the Joint Sittings of Parliament mentioned above contained similar recommendations, emphasizing the imperative need to review our national security strategy, in the context of an independent foreign policy, with focus on peace and reconciliation, and to attach the highest priority to dialogue;

(e) We have noted with grave concern the continued threat to life, property and business in the city of Karachi and appreciate the recent initiative of the Federal Government to take all stakeholders into confidence and its complete support to the Provincial Government for restoration of peace and order. While expressing our solidarity with the people of Karachi, we urge the Provincial and Federal Governments to make sustained and concerted efforts with complete impartiality and dedication for bringing Karachi back to its assigned glory;

(f) We are cognizant of the troubled situation in the Province of Balochistan and are fully aware of the concerns of our Baloch brothers and sisters. This meeting authorizes the Provincial Government of Balochistan and its Chief Minister to initiate the process of dialogue with all estranged Baloch elements inside and outside of the country with a view to bring them back to national mainstream;

(g) We appreciate the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan and firmly believe that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is imperative to the needs of a stable and progressive Pakistan. We urge the Federal Government to make all efforts for bringing peace to Afghanistan by continuous and sustained engagement with the government and people of Afghanistan; and,

(h) Recent developments have fully borne out the validity and necessity of these recommendations. We therefore, repose full confidence in efforts of the Prime Minister in this behalf and call upon the Federal Government to initiate the dialogue with all stakeholders forthwith and for this purpose, authorize it to take all necessary steps as it may deem fit, including development of an appropriate mechanism and identification of interlocutors. Needless to state, the process should be as inclusive as possible, with full participation of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other stakeholders. Guiding principles should include respect for local customs and traditions, values and religious beliefs and the creation of an environment which brings peace and tranquility to the region.