Pakistan Reviews War on Terror

ISLAMABAD — Two time former premier Nawaz Sharif, the main partner in the new ruling coalition, insisted on Tuesday, March 25, that the new government would review cooperation with the US in its so-called war on terror.

"We discussed terrorism, we informed them our point of view is that since 9/11 all decisions were made by one man," Sharif told a press conference following his talks with Deputy US Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.

"Pervez Musharraf used the war on terrorism to perpetuate his rule. No cabinet and no parliament was taken into confidence in any of his decisions. That is why it did not have popular support," he insisted.

"Now the situation has changed, a truly representative parliament has come into being…Every decision will be presented before the parliament, they will review Musharraf's policy in the last six years."

Musharraf's political allies suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the opposition in the February general election.

Sharif, whose Pakistan Muslim League (N) is the main ruling partner of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, told the US envoys Islamabad had to consider its national priorities.

"We want to see peace in every corner of the world and we want to see peace in Pakistan also. We do not want that in order to give peace to others we turn our own country into a murder house."

Musharraf, who ousted Sharif's elected government in a 1999 coup, has been America's main ally in its so-called war on terror since 9/11.

He has deployed more than 90,000 troops in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to take on Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters taking refugee there.

Negroponte and Boucher later held 90-minute talks with Musharraf and are to meet Yousuf Raza Gilani, a close Bhutto aide who was sworn in by Musharraf earlier in the day as the new prime minister.

Bush Call

US President George W. Bush called Gilani a few hours after he was sworn in.

"They both agreed that it's in everyone's best interest to continue to fight extremists," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino briefed reporters.

"So we feel comfortable that we'll be having a continued good relationship with the Pakistanis in this regard."

The US has been alarmed by signals from Pakistan's new rulers that they would engage militant groups in talks and that the use of force would be the last resort.

Sharif has described the militants as part of the Pakistan people.

"When you have a problem in your own family, you don't kill…you sit and talk."

PPP leader and Bhutto widower Asif Ali Zardari told the New York Times earlier this week he favored using talks and a "beefed-up police force" with the militants.

"Even a fool knows that…what they have been doing for the past eight years has not been working."

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