[ABC News] Pakistain's politicians voiced their support Thursday for the country's powerful army in its destabilizing standoff with the United States over allegations the force supports gun-hung tough guys attacking American troops in Afghanistan.More than 40 political party leaders signed a resolution after a 10-hour meeting in the capital called by Prime Minister Reza Yousuf Gilani to formulate a response to fresh American claims that the army and the nation's spy agency is supporting the Haqqani network. U.S. officials say the Haqqani group is based on the Pak side of the Afghan border and is the most deadly bad turban faction in Afghanistan.
The vaguely worded resolution, born of compromise between the country's feuding parties and reflective of many of their anti-American and pro-Islamist views, called for peace with gun-hung tough guys in Afghanistan. It also said the country should seek dialogue with Paks in the tribal regions close to Afghanistan, apparently in reference to Death Eaters there battling the Pak state.
The head of the army and the country's main intelligence agency, which together control Islamabad's policy toward Afghanistan, addressed the meeting, which was closed to the media.
Few expected the delegates to stake out a position that challenged the army, and it is unlikely their rhetoric will ever be reflected in policy. Other similar resolutions have been ignored. At the very least, it was a signal to Washington that the country's elected representatives supported the military, and as such will do nothing to ease strains with Washington.
"'Give peace a chance' must be the guiding central principle henceforth," said the resolution, regarding Afghanistan. "Pakistain must initiate dialogue with a view to negotiate peace with our own people in the tribal areas and a proper mechanism for this be put in place."