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Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Pakistan can play pivotal role for Afghan stability
* Gilani says Pakistan is part of solution of Afghan conflict
* No distinction between good and bad Taliban
* World has appreciated Pak nuclear programme and its security
* Democratic forces have corrected anomalies of dictatorial regimesISLAMABAD: Pakistan can play a pivotal role in stabilising Afghanistan as a stable Afghanistan is in Islamabad’s interest, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday.
In an interview with French daily Le Figaro, Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan wanted a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, adding that the two countries had historical, cultural and geographical commonalities.
To a question about Pakistan’s role in ending the Afghan conflict and talks with Taliban, the prime minister said Pakistan was a part of the solution of the Afghan conflict as the leadership of both the countries wanted a homemade solution to the issue.
He said Pakistan did not interfere in the internal matters of Afghanistan, instead it wanted to support its neighbour. “Pakistan did not interfere in President Karzai’s elections,” he said.
Distinction: About the arrest of Mullah Baradar and other Taliban leaders, Gilani said there was no distinction between the good and bad Taliban.
“The terrorists have no religion, they are enemies of the humanity and we are against them,” he said.
The prime minister disagreed with a suggestion that Pakistan was not doing enough to crush terrorists. He said military operations in Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan had a lot of success stories.
About Pak-US objectives in the war against terrorism, the prime minister said, “We have common objectives, terrorism and extremism, and we want to work together with the US.”
About drone attacks and the transfer of technology, Gilani said Pakistan had conveyed its concern to the US as it wanted to isolate Taliban from the local tribes, adding that the US was looking into it.
Praise: About the nuclear programme and its security, the prime minister said Pakistan had a good image and the world had praised our nuclear programme and its security.
About nuclear cooperation, Prime Minister Gilani said, “I attended the recently held nuclear safety summit in Washington. More than 49 heads of states participated in it.”
About any deal with the US on civilian nuclear technology, the prime minister said, “Our discussion is still going on but at the moment we are just discussing it and there is nothing concrete.”
Anomalies: He said democratic forces had corrected the anomalies of dictatorial regimes, which was a great achievement. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk