Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir Wednesday said Federal Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will soon visit Afghanistan.

Talking to media after attending a meeting of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs headed by Dr Farooq Sattar, he said any decision regarding re-opening of the NATO supply routes will be made by the Parliament and the country will stand by the conditions adopted by the Parliament.

The secretary said the US missile strikes on Pak soil are absolutely unlawful and unacceptable and the government’s position over the issue is quite clear.

Replying to a question on Afghanistan, Bashir said Pakistan backs up reconciliation process in the neighboring country and wants cordial relations with it.

Earlier briefing the Standing Committee on a bill regarding biological weapons, he said the proposed bill has no bearing on the war against terrorism.

According to the bill, the violation of the Biological and Fatal Weapons Convention will lead to punishment of life-imprisonment, a fine worth Rs.10 million and confiscation of transferable and non-transferable property.

Also, an authority will be established to ensure the implementation of the Act.

The Secretary Bashir furthermore told as many as 164 countries are signatories to this convention; of them, 132 have had legislation in this regard.

The committee voiced reservations over the draft of the Bill and directed to clearly specify the implementing authority. Bill’s approval was put on hold until the next meeting of the NA committee. SAMAA