Clinton’s Reception In Pakistan: Civil Coalition Launches ‘Stop The War’ Campaign

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Clinton’s Reception In Pakistan: Civil Coalition Launches ‘Stop The War’ Campaign


- Foreign Presence Source Of Instability
- Trial for American and Pakistani War Criminals
- Afghan Resistance Is Legitimate
- Cease All Military Operations in Afghanistan
- Compensate Pakistan For War Losses
- Shut Down Terror Export To Pakistan From Afghan Soil

Saturday, 17 July 2010.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—This is not the kind of reception US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expected in Pakistan.

Starting with ‘We, the people of Pakistan’, seven Pakistani civil society organizations and hundreds of Pakistani citizens from across the nation and their friends from around the world come together tomorrow to launch a ‘Stop The War’ campaign from the federal capital, timed with the arrival of Mrs. Clinton for crucial talks on the failed war in Afghanistan.

Tomorrow, Sunday, at 14:00 PST at the National Press Club, the Coalition of Conscience launches Stop The War: A Charter of Demands, a document that could become the biggest expression of popular sentiment in Pakistan in favor of ending the nation’s role in United States’ messy eight-year-old war in the region.

The document was jointly drafted by groups representing the spectrum of Pakistani public opinion, from liberal to conservative. The Coalition is made up of groups as varied as the Pakistani Defense of Human Rights, the Good Governance Forum, the Pakistani Christian Study Center and the Ex-Servicemen Society representing retired military servicemen.

The Coalition of Conscience is forwarding very specific demands to both the Pakistani and US governments. The Coalition is also not mincing words: it says it recognizes the legitimate Afghan resistance to foreign occupation in that country, accuses the United States and its allies of fostering anti-Pakistan terrorism from the Afghan soil and calls for the trial of war criminals involved in this war and in the murder of innocent Pakistani citizens in US aerial attacks on Pakistani soil. The Coalition calls for the trial of Pakistani leaders for complicity with Washington in conspiring against, and endangering the lives of, Pakistani citizens. This is an unprecedented demand that affects many Pakistani political and military leaders going back to the days of former president Pervez Musharraf, and the incumbents in power in Islamabad.

Here are some of the salient features of the document, ‘Stop The War: A Charter of Demands’, which will be formally released on the eve of Secretary Clinton’s arrival:

Ø The Government of Pakistan is urged to exercise this nation’s legitimate right to secure its interests against all hostile bases inside Afghanistan [that are] supporting and funding terrorism and insurgency in Pakistan.

Ø The Government of Pakistan must carry forward the inconclusive negotiations of 1996 and assist all Afghans (Resistance and Northern Alliance) to mediate peace. We welcome support from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and China with no covert agendas.

Ø Support to insurgent and terrorist groups in FATA and Balochistan originates from Afghanistan

Ø The Afghan movement is led by leaders who are indigenous to Afghanistan and legitimate representatives of resistance to foreign occupation

Ø All Pakistani prisoners kept by coalition countries, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in illegal detention centers must be brought back immediately and subjected to Pakistani courts.

Ø War reparations and criminal trials of coalition leaders who have knowingly falsified evidence in support of war before their own people; their Parliaments; and before the UN Security Council must be brought before Law. All Pakistani leaders guilty of same must be tried under Pakistan laws.

Clinton's Reception Party In Pakistan: Civil Coalition Launches 'Stop The War' Campaign - International Analyst Network