Defiant Pak in huddle,won’t target Haqqanis

The commanders vowed to resist US demands for an offensive against the Haqqanis in North Waziristan but also discussed possible implications of unilateral action by the US on Pakistani territory,a military official was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

The decision is “likely to chip away at the deteriorating relationship between the two countries”,the report said.

“We have already conveyed to the US that Pakistan cannot go beyond what it has already done,” the military official said.

Dawn quoted sources as saying that the meeting of the Corps Commanders had agreed on the need to de-escalate the situation. “Escalation is harmful. In the cost-benefit analysis,there appears to be no benefit of a confrontation,” a source said.

Dawn too reported that “there was nothing to suggest that the army had agreed to act against the Haqqani network under US pressure”.

There was no word from the military about yesterday’s six-hour meeting.

Meanwhile,Pakistani officials have been meeting with foreign dignitaries seeking diplomatic support as the US piles on pressure. Salim Saifullah,chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Foreign Relations committee,said he and other officials held talks with diplomats to explain Pakistan’s stand.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has called an all-party meeting on September 29 to discuss the situation. The meeting will be attended by representatives of the military and intelligence agencies.

“The meeting will discuss Pakistan-US ties and chart a future course of action,” PTI quoted a source in the government as saying.