Pak rejects demand for military action against militants

United Nations, July 11 (PTI) Rejecting a demand by many U.N. Security Council members for a strong military action against militants crossing over to Afghanistan, Pakistan has said it will be only be the last option and refused to give upits much criticised peace negotiations with the local Taliban.

Addressing the Council during a debate on situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi questioned the "excessive" reliance on military option tocheck extremism.

"The military option should be used but as a last, andnot the first, resort," the minister said.

The security environment in Pakistan deteriorated sharply as a result of our role in counter-terrorist campaign, Qureshi said. "In 2007, al Qaeda and some Taliban linkedgroups turned on Pakistan and its security forces.

"Last year, there were a larger number of suicide bombings in Pakistan that Afghanistan resulting in 2000civilian casualties," the minister added.

Pointing that this has led to "growing popular concern" and questioning by some of the excessive reliance on the military option, he said the new democratic government cannotbut be sensitive to the sentiments of the people.

"Reconciliation and reconstruction are the only sustainable solution to insurgent violence and instability," he said, adding that the government planned massive investment in the area and its incorporation in the political mainstreamof the country.

"We are negotiating with tribal leaders and other influentials in these regions, not with terrorists nor with those who do not eschew violence," he added. PTI