ISLAMABAD - The Federal cabinet Wednesday welcomed the invitation extended by Nato to President Asif Zardari for attending Chicago summit.
Chairing the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said country’s relations with Nato and US were passing through sensitive phase where “we need to take critical decisions” keeping in view “our strategic importance and national interests”. The government, he said, would not compromise on its principled stance but would also not be swayed by emotions. “We did not and will not compromise on our principled stand but would also not take emotional decisions, which do not auger well for us in the long run,” Gilani said.
The premier’s remarks came a day after the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, the country’s highest decision making body on security issues, endorsed President Zardari‘s participation in a crucial Nato Summit next week.
After the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told the media that the government has so far not taken any decision on the restoration of Nato supply routes and though negotiation were on with the stakeholders. Asked if there was any deadline for the talks, the information minister said: “There is no deadline. All departments have been asked to conclude their negotiations in the quickest possible time.”
He assured that all would be accomplished within the framework of national interests, and there would be no compromise over national integrity, ever.
He assured the nation would not be kept in the dark about the issues, while government would demonstrate the sense of full responsibility in this regard. He said the invitation to President Zardari to attend Nato summit was unconditional and the president was not going to announce restoration of Nato supply during this summit. He  said Pakistan would not succumb to pressure and take such decisions as would be in the best interest of the country. “Despite pressure, we signed agreement with Iran as it was in the interest of the country,” he said. Kaira also denied exchange of hot words between ministers during the cabinet meeting.