Rejecting the recent assertions and baseless allegations made by the United States against Pakistan, the All Parties Conference (APC) here on Thursday resolved unanimously to never compromise on sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

Reading out the unanimous resolution at the conclusion of the APC, held at the Prime Minister House, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said leaders of 32 political parties asserted that "defence of Pakistan's sovereignty and its territorial integrity is a sacred duty which shall never be compromised."

After in-depth deliberations, leaders of all the political parties unanimously adopted a 13-point resolution stating that assertions against Pakistan are without substance and derogatory to a partnership approach.

The APC said as a peace-loving country, Pakistan desires to establish and maintain friendly and cordial relations with all countries of the world on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual interest and respect. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani convened the APC so that parties across the political spectrum could hold threadbare discussion on the internal and external security challenges faced by the country.

At start of the conference, the Prime Minister took the participants into confidence about the security environment. Director General Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha briefed the participants on regional security situation and answered their questions.

The All Parties Conference recognized that there has to be a new direction and policy with focus on peace and reconciliation. "Give
peace a chance" must be the guiding central principle henceforth.

The resolution said, "Pakistan 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." "We need to further enhance our brotherly bilateral relations
with Afghanistan at three levels on priority basis: government to government, institution to institution and people to people."  The APC recognized the sacrifices of the people and the Security Forces of Pakistan, especially the people of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and tribal areas.

The international community needs to recognize these tremendous sacrifices as well as the colossal magnitude of destruction in Pakistan, the APC stressed. The resolution said Pakistan can enhance its self-reliance comprehensively. "Trade, not aid, should clearly be the way forward.

We should also focus on internal economic and tax reforms as well as resource mobilization and the curbing of corruption," the leaders said.  The APC participants said national interests are supreme and shall guide Pakistan's policy and response to all challenges at all times.

"Pakistan shall continue to endeavor to promote stability and peace at the regional and global planes, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law."

It was decided that all earlier unanimous resolutions of the Parliament, the recommendation of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on National Security must be implemented.
The leaders said the Pakistani nation affirms its full solidarity and support for the armed forces of Pakistan in defeating any threat to national security.

The leaders reached an understanding that a Parliamentary Committee is formed to oversee the implementation of earlier resolutions as well as this Resolution and progress on the same are made public on monthly basis.