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'Pakistan to counter

India's vilification

campaign'

ISLAMABAD: The government is determined to resolutely counter Indian propaganda and thwart its evil designs against Pakistan, an official report said.

The report cited the deft handling of the hijacking drama of Indian plane by the government which earned international "respect and appreciation," for Pakistan.

It said the US administration has categorically stated that Pakistan was not involved in the hijacking incident.

The Indian government, however, is bent upon pursuing its avowed objective of getting Pakistan declared as a terrorist state. 'The government is determined to resolutely face this challenge and foil the evil Indian designs," the report said.

Referring to India's frantic efforts to isolate Pakistan internationally like its move to terminate Islamabad's membership to the Commonwealth, the official document said Islamabad successfully met these challenges.

The report said the commonwealth delegation which visited Pakistan realised that the people were thoroughly disillusioned and the exceptional circumstances prevailing in the country necessitated the removal of the previous corrupt and undemocratic government.

Accordingly, it said, Pakistan was only debarred from participation in the meetings, but Pakistan's membership in the Commonwealth has not been terminated.

Similarly, the report said, the European Union commended the present government's priorities for political and economic reforms including "strengthening of democratic structures at the national, provincial and local levels, reforming the electoral system, re-enforcing good governance and fighting corruption as well as improving the investment climate."

Also, it said, the initial demand by the United States and other Western countries for the announcement of a time-table for return to constitutional rule, "have been moderated to a demand for the indication of bench-marks leading to restoration of democracy within a time-frame."

The specific bench-marks suggested are: reform of electoral rolls, reform of the election commission, reform of political parties, local elections and devolution of power.

The report said it is now widely recognised by the international community that the previous government had driven the economy to the precipice and the federation had been dangerously weakened. "Our present efforts have also convinced the international community that this government has preserved civil liberties, freedom of the press, civil laws and courts and normal functioning of the executive machinery of the government."

It added: "they have also realised that the new government is determined to sincerely implement its agenda of economic recovery, wide-ranging reforms and devolution of power to the grass-roots level to foster and environment in which genuine democracy can flourish.."

The report further said the international pressures and the prevailing controversy over the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) required the adoption of a prudent policy in the best interest of the nation.

"Accordingly, the federal government has embarked upon a serious effort to facilitate debate and discussion at the public level for a better understanding of the treaty and its implications for the preservation of our nuclear deterrent."

The report said: "An appropriate decision in this regard will be taken after the emergence of a national consensus."

The report said brotherly ties with the Islamic countries will be a central pillar of Islamabad's foreign policy.ÑAPP