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Sunday, October 31, 2010
External pressure for NWA operation not acceptable: FM* Qureshi says Pakistan would itself decide on any operation in North Waziristan keeping in view its requirements
MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday that Pakistan would not accept any external pressure and it would itself decide on any operation in North Waziristan keeping in view its requirements, resources and priorities.
Talking to journalists at the Multan Airport, Qureshi said there was no external pressure on Pakistan for launching an operation in North Waziristan adding that, the whole world had acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifice in the war on terror.
To a question on “do more” demand, the FM said Pakistan was making sincere efforts in the war and it had made numerous sacrifices. “Our people and even shrines are being targeted by terrorists,” he said and added that the two sides should move forward in the context.
On the Pak-US strategic dialogue, the foreign minister said the US administration had decided to provide five-year security assistance to Pakistan to fulfill its defence requirements.
On civil nuclear assistance, Qureshi said, “Energy is our requirement and we have conveyed our desire of a civil nuclear agreement. There should be no discrimination on the civil nuclear programme. We also want to move forward in the direction.”
He said he had presented Pakistan’s historic and principled point of view in the UN. Kashmiri people were protesting against Indian atrocities and the world had admitted that the Kashmir movement was indigenous, he said.
Qureshi said Pakistan wished to normalise relations with India but Kashmiri people should be given due respect in the process leading to the solution of the issue. The minister said Pakistan, being a neighbouring country, was ready to help the Afghan government for peace in Afghanistan if it sought Pakistan’s help.
He said groups, who were fighting against each other in Afghanistan were locals with different ethnic backgrounds and ideologies.
“If the groups are willing to hold talks for peace, Pakistan is ready to help the process leading to peace and prosperity in Afghanistan,” he added.
He said the UK had also wanted strategic dialogue with Pakistan. He said Pakistan also gave importance to its relations with Russia. “We have initiated a process to expand our relations with Russia,” he added.
On meetings between the PM and the army chief, Qureshi said the meetings were part of a consultative process related to national security issues. He said the army chief was also present in the Pak-US strategic dialogue. “When we jointly present our case, it gets more weight,” he added.
He said all state departments were playing their due role in the country’s uplift.
About unification of PML factions, the foreign minister said that it was PML’s internal matter and might be their political need. He added the PPP had no concern with it. To a question about tax collection from the elite class, Qureshi said the country’s tax to GDP ratio was low as compared to other countries of the region. He said tax collection was vital for self-sufficiency and the country was relying on employed taxation and indirect taxes.
The foreign minister also suggested a debate on tax collection in parliament. He said there was a need to reform the tax system to achieve self-reliance. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk