‘Civil war may break out in Pak if US attack continues’

Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 3:11 am

Former premier and opposition PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday (November 1) warned that if the ongoing US missile attacks on Pakistani soil were not stopped forthwith then civil war may break out in the country.

In a scathing attack on PPP-led federal government, he said both the government in Islamabad and the US are loosing public support due to the increasing missile strikes by latter on Pakistani soil. “The US attacks on Pakistani soil have become a routine and a big challenge to the integrity and autonomy of the country,” he said, and expressed concern over the killing of innocent people in such attacks.

“If the ongoing US attacks on Pakistani soil were not stopped forthwith and the problems of the peaceful people were not resolved then civil war may break out,” he warned. Sharif’s comments came a day after two missile strikes by US drones in Pakistan’s lawless North and South Waziristan tribal regions killed 32 people, including Arab militants and an Al-Qaeda commander.

The former prime minister said the US missile strikes on Pakistani soil had raised questions about bilateral relations as they had continued even after a special session of Pakistan’s parliament adopted a resolution opposing the attacks and despite the assertions of the US administration about respecting the country’s integrity.

He urged the government to make it clear to the US that any war, whether it is against terror or for any other purpose, can be won only with the support of the people. “Nowadays, the whole world is in the grip of defence, political, strategic, geographical and environmental changes. In such a situation, the growing threat of militancy and terrorism causes intolerance and economic instability, which is a big challenge for humanity,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan has never asked the US to target militants in its territory. In an interview with the BBC, he emphasised the need for increased cooperation with the world community and the US in combating terrorism in a more effective manner.

Pakistan has the will and ability to fight terrorism and the world community will have to enhance its capacity, Gilani said. He also called for more information-sharing between allies. The counter-terror strategy of the US had failed and remained counter-productive, he added. Sharif also pointed out that think tanks and strategic experts across the world are stressing the need for changes in economic and security policies due to changing circumstances.

According to them, conflicts should be resolved through dialogue. Sharif questioned why this is not being implemented in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He demanded that the government should hold a strategic dialogue with the US administration and devise policies keeping in mind the lifestyle, religious and cultural traditions and jirga system of the tribal areas. This would convince elements to lay down the arms which they had taken up in reaction to frustrations, he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

‘Civil war may break out in Pak if US attack continues’

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