Islamabad, March 24, IRNA -- Pakistan has said in categorical terms   
that it would not provide any assistance to the United States in its  
ongoing military action against Iraq.                                 
    Defense Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal stated that Pakistan would not
provide any assistance to the US that could be used in its war against
Baghdad, reported The Frontier Post Monday.                           
    He termed attack on Iraq regrettable, contending the US should    
have resolved the crisis through amicable way under the auspices      
of the United Nations, the newspaper noted.                           
    It is pertinent that Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the UN   
Security Council, opposed any military action against Iraq and called 
for a peaceful solution of the issue.                                 
    "Pakistan will not allow America to use its air, sea or ground    
facilities against Iraq as Pakistani people are against US invasion   
of that country," he emphatically declared.                           
    Islamabad allowed US to use some of its bases for logistic purpose
in the American invasion of Afghanistan.                              
MHA/BH/AR                                                             
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