After rebutting U.S. accusations regarding Pakistan's institutional links with terrorists, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani initiated discussions on bilateral relations with all political parties on Sunday while Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani called a “special'' conference of the corps commanders to “review the prevailing security situation''. As the civil and political leadership went into consultation mode — albeit separately — there were reports of Mr. Gilani asking Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to cut short her visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly and return at the earliest.
However, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the Minister will return after delivering her speech at the UNGA on September 27. As per her initial schedule, she was to be at the UNGA till September 27.
While Mr. Gilani spoke to leaders of political parties separately over phone on the issue, an all party meeting will also be convened to evolve a political consensus. As for the corps commanders, there was no official word on what transpired at their meeting though Gen. Kayani had on Friday said the U.S. accusations were baseless.
