As US President Bush prepared to huddle again with his national security advisers, the government of Pakistan signaled Saturday it is willing to fulfill its pledge to "fully cooperate" with the United States in an international war against the terrorists responsible for the World Trade Center and Pentagon terror attacks, reported the CNN.com from Islamabad. Meanwhile, the Arab League said its members should be consulted on any American move if their help is sought by Washington.
During a meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani cabinet and security council voted unanimously to "help the international community fight terrorism." A spokesman said the government would immediately "hold consultations with the Pakistani people" to build a consensus for the decision.
The United States has given the Pakistan government a "wish list" of actions it wants Pakistan to take. Included on that list is allowing, if requested, US warplanes access to Pakistani airspace.
However, A Jazeera satellite channel quoted Abdusattar, the Pakistani foreign minister, as saying after the meeting that any “military action against Afghanistan should be discussed in the UN Security Council.”
Analysts say that the Pakistani government jeopardizes national unity and even legitimacy if it allows US troops into the country.
“Military moves” coupled with a decision to close Karachi airport Friday were interpreted by news agencies and TV reports as an indication that US troops were already arriving in the Muslim country and number one ally of the ruling Afghani Taliban militia.
The Taliban government of Afghanistan threatened any neighboring country that allows its soil to be used to help the United States stage an attack on Afghanistan.
"If neighboring or regional countries, particularly Islamic countries, give a positive response to American demand for military bases, it would spark up extraordinary danger," said Taliban spokesman Sohail Shaheen in Islamabad. "Similarly, if any neighboring country gives territorial way or airspace to USA against our land, it would draw us into an imposed war."
There is widespread fear in Afghanistan that the United States will attack Afghanistan because suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden is said to be living as a "guest" in that country.
A Jazeera reported that an influx of Afghanis were fleeing the country to Pakistan, but a spokesman of the Taliban foreign ministry denied that the Afghanis were afraid of the US anticipated attacks, that could take the form of land operations.
He admitted that there is a movement of people in and out of the country, but not waves of fleeing citizens.
Friday, Secretary of State Colin Powell told Arab leaders from 15 nations to decide if they will stand with the United States or risk isolation.
Amr Moussa, the Arab League secretary general, said Arab nations stand with the United States but need to be consulted on what action the United States plans to take.
"The Arab nations do stand with President Bush, with the US All countries are against international terrorism. We are very clear that we do reject any international crime of terrorism anywhere, and in particular what happened a couple days ago in the United States," said Moussa.
"We do understand and appreciate the stand taken by Bush that United States will not let go after it happened -- that we understand, but what could be done and what should be done, we stand ready to listen, to hear and to be consulted." – Albawaba.com
