News
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Pakistan and US should rebuild trust, says Gilani
* PM says political, military and intelligence tracks of interaction between two countries should proceed simultaneously
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday that it was the need of the hour that the United States and Pakistan should rebuild the trust and confidence between their governments and institutions.
He said Pakistan desired due recognition and support of the international community, particularly that of the US, at this stage rather than negative messaging and uncalled-for criticism, emanating from there.
Talking to a US delegation, led by US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator John F Kerry, at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday morning, Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment and resolve to fighting the menace of extremism and terrorism. He, however, underlined the imperative of mutual trust, interest and respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty to strengthen its national consensus in the war against terror to achieve the common objective of defeating the forces of terror.
The prime minister emphasised that no other country had been affected as Pakistan in terms of human sacrifices and socio-economic cost in the war against terror. The government, said Gilani, could not ignore the sentiments and views of its people and the international community had to be sensitive on their legitimate concerns about the sovereignty, security and integrity for ensuring their continued support.
He called for the strategic partnership between the US and Pakistan to focus on developing a joint strategy that could give ownership of the campaign to the government and Pakistani people. This, he said, was essential for the bilateral relations to move forward on longterm, stable and constructive basis.
The premier underlined that Pakistan was part of the solution for ensuring lasting peace in the region and it was the need of the hour that Pakistan and the US should rebuild the trust and confidence between their governments and institutions. He suggested that the political, military and intelligence tracks of interaction between Pakistan and the US should proceed simultaneously and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and US State Department should take the lead on working out the modalities of the joint strategy to be adopted for avoiding any possible negative impact on the relations in the future.
Both the countries, he said, had to be on the same page with regards to the security situation in the region, adding that the US must take into account Pakistan’s core national interests in its policies.
Senator Kerry, while responding to the prime minister’s views, said the US recognised Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices made in the war against terror. The strategic relations build up between the two countries required new impetus to strengthen the relations in the interest of regional peace and stability, he added.
Kerry mentioned that he emphatically wanted to dispel the impression that the US was interested in taking over Pakistan’s nuclear installations. He said that he could write this with his blood that “we have no interest in Pakistan’s nuclear assets”, however it is our desire to see these well-protected and secure under proper command and control system.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk