No decision yet to send troops to Lebanon, Pakistan, B'desh

Islamabad/ Dhaka Aug 21 (UNI) Pakistan and Bangladesh today said they have not yet taken a decision to send their troops to join the UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

''No decision has been taken to take part in peacekeeping mission under the UN Resolution 1701,'' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said in Islamabad.

She said Pakistan would agree to send troops under the UN umbrella and only after acceptance of the UN mandate by all parties involved in the Lebanon conflict.

Bangladesh also has not yet taken decision on sending peacekeeping troops to south Lebanon as the United nations rules of deployment were not recieved by rhe governement.

''We haven't taken any decison.We have not received the rules of deployment. Nothing is clear to us,'' Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan told reporters in Dhaka.

About the visit of King Abdullah of Jordan to Pakistan, beginning tomorrow, Ms Aslam said during his visit the two sides will exchange views on the West Asia situation.

Asked if there was any change in Pakistan's policy on establishment of relations with Israel in view of its attack on Lebanon, she said any ''progress toward the Pakistan-Israel relations will depend on the progress on the peace process and establishment of Palestinian state and just solution of the West Asia.'' Ms Aslam said Pakistan Foreign Minister met his Israeli counterpart in Turkey after it vacated Gaza, to demonstrate that as Tel Aviv moves towards just resolution of Palestine the Muslim countries will correspondingly move forward.

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