Islamabad, Mar 11: Pakistan tonight said it would be very difficult for Islamabad to support war on Iraq but added that the decision to vote on the US-UK-Spain sponsored resolution, giving Iraq a deadline to Diarm, would be taken later on the basis of "principles and national interests". "It is very difficult to support war on Iraq," Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali told reporters here after a cabinet meeting. Asked whether Pakistan was going to vote for or against the US resolution in the UNSC, he said a "decision would be taken when the time comes".


His statement followed a detailed discussion on Iraq by the cabinet, which was attended among others by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) President, Sujat Hussain.
"The cabinet unanimously decided to continue to base Pakistan's position on Iraq, on principles and the national interests," an official press release, which was circulated later, said.
"Peace must be given a chance and all options for a peaceful resolution must be explored," it said.


Addressing the cabinet, Jamali emphasized that Pakistan's position on the issue will be based on "principles and not expediency".
Bureau Report