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Islamabad: Pakistan's new government will review the country's role in the US-led "war on terror," former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday after holding talks with a top American envoy.
Deputy US Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher flew into Islamabad for talks focusing on Pakistan's cooperation in efforts against Al Qaida and Taliban militants.
They met key ally President Pervez Musharraf and Sharif, and were also due to see new prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, a senior aide of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto whose party is heading the new coalition government.
Earlier, Pakistan's new prime minister was sworn in by President Pervez Musharraf. The President told state television after the ceremony that he would "always extend my fullest cooperation" to Gilani, saying the country faced a "difficult period" from militancy. Gilani, standing at his side, called on all political forces to work together "in unity" for the good of the country.
Sharif, whose party is also in the coalition, said he had told Negroponte that a parliamentary committee would examine Musharraf's policies since he first backed the US campaign against extremism in 2001. "We discussed terrorism, we informed them our point of view is that since 9/11 all decisions were made by one man," Sharif, the man ousted by Musharraf in a coup in 1999, told reporters in Islamabad after the meeting.
"Now the situation has changed, a truly representative parliament has come into being .... Every decision will be presented before the parliament, they will review Musharraf's policy in the last six years," he said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's army chief has made changes to key posts in the military. The changes by army chief General Ashfaq Kayani were the first major reshuffle in the army's top ranks since Musharraf stepped down as army chief in November.
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