News
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Pakistan fighting war on terror in own interest: PM
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is fighting the war on terror in its own interest and the government will never negotiate with militants, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Monday. “The government will welcome and initiate political dialogue with those elements who lay down arms ... We will, however, never negotiate with militants or allow foreigners to use our soil against another country,” he told United States Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher at Prime Minister’s House. “Normalising law, order and the security situation of the country and reviving the economy are the two top priorities of my government,” he added. About Pak-US relations, the premier said Pakistan greatly valued its relationship with the US and was keen to strengthen it further in the fields of diplomacy, politics, economy, defence and security. Gilani also said that he believed that the victory of democratic and progressive forces in the country would further cement the close and co-operative relationship that exists between the US and Pakistan. On the issue of terrorism, he said Pakistan was a frontline ally. The premier said Pakistan was convinced that there was a need to address the factors that encourage terrorism and had adopted a three-pronged strategy in this regard. He also said that there could be no meaningful progress and development without stability in Afghanistan and the region. He said that Pakistan needed increased economic assistance to help combat extremism and establish Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in FATA and Balochistan. During the meeting, Boucher told Gilani that the US had great interest in the success of the democratic government and the economic well being of the people of Pakistan. “The US is also ready to help resettle Afghan refugees in their country,” he added.
Courtesy DailyTimes