Pakistani parties meet to show unity

Pakistan's political parties, meeting in Islamabad, rejected U.S. claims the country provides haven for terrorists and resolved to defend Pakistani sovereignty. The All Parties Conference among leaders of the country's dozens of political parties, some highly critical of the government, was convened by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani amid growing tensions in relations with the United States. The United States alleges, and Islamabad has vehemently denied, that Pakistan provides safe haven to the violent Haqqani Network, which uses it to attack U.S. forces in Afghanistan. U.S. officials say the network is an asset of the Pakistani military and its spy agency. The meeting was briefed, among others, by Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, who heads the Pakistani spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported. The gathering unanimously approved a resolution that stressed peace and negotiations but also said: "Defense of Pakistan's sovereignty and its territorial integrity is a sacred duty which shall never be compromised." Without mentioning the Haqqani Network, the document said the party leaders rejected "the recent assertions and baseless allegations made against Pakistan," calling them "without substance and derogatory to a partnership approach." "The Pakistani nation affirms its full solidarity and support for the armed forces of Pakistan in defeating any threat to national security," the resolution said. The document said Pakistan will continue to "endeavor to promote stability and peace at the regional and global planes" in accordance with the United Nations Charter. Dawn newspaper, citing sources, quoted Gilani as saying: "Our national interest must be respected and honored. And Pakistan cannot be pressured to do more." Dawn quoted sources as saying the ISI's Pasha rejected the perception that the spy agency is working with the Haqqanis in Afghanistan.