Near consensus in Pak over resumption of NATO supplies-halting drone strikes quid pro quo

Islamabad, Apr 11 (ANI): Political parties in Pakistan are reportedly willing to allow for the resumption of NATO supplies through the country, if US drone strikes are brought to a halt.

Lawmakers who attended a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) revealed that the panel is close to finalising a fresh draft of recommendations.

The panel is focusing on an additional clause that would "force the US to stop drone strikes in Pakistan," they added.

"We have almost finalised a new draft that all parties agree to," The Express Tribune quoted the panel's chairman Senator Raza Rabbani, as saying.

Rabbani said the all-party, bicameral panel had succeeded in evolving a consensus after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, military, political and religious leadership.

According to the paper, the move to link the resumption of NATO supplies with a halt to drone strikes remained a key proposal yesterday.

Members of the panel also agreed to drop proposals from the original draft calling for transparency about the presence of foreign intelligence operatives in Pakistan.

The clause that justifies the presence of foreign troops near border areas will also be dropped, the report said. (ANI)