News
Monday, October 03, 2011
Govt committed to making peace with Taliban: Gilani
* PM says govt will not disarm, but only ‘decommission’ extremists
* Govt didn’t sign any covert pact with US vis-à-vis war on terror
By Hussain Kashif
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that the government was committed to bring peace through dialogue with Taliban in the Tribal Areas.
Talking to reporters at his residence on Sunday evening, the prime minister said that following the policy of talks with extremists in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), his government would not disarmed but only “decommission” them through political agents as traditionally they take weapons as there ornaments.
He said that the coalition government had inked not a single agreement with United States on war on terror.
He also disclosed that America through some outer sources had ensured Pakistan after the APC that US would not keep any footprint on the soil of Pakistan like Abbottabad in the future, and that Pakistan also wanted ‘no fight’ with anyone.
Regarding the Pak-US ties, he said that Pakistan must adopt a moderate approach in its relations with Afghanistan and the United States. He said that Pakistan wanted good relations with all countries, including the United States. He appreciated China for being a good friend of Pakistan during this situation.
Talking about the fruitful result of the All Parties Conference (APC), he said that the US had molded his stance over the issue that created differences between the two countries.
Over the participation of political parties in the APC and criteria for extending invitation to the participants, the prime minister said that an effort had been made to invite all the political parties keeping in view its importance in the national politics.
He expressed pleasure over the consensus developed in the APC and said that the joint resolution of the APC had not only increased the respect of Pakistan but also sent a strong message to the international community that the government, the opposition and the military were united on the national agenda.
Dispelling the impression that no Baloch leadership was invited to the APC, he said that prominent politicians like Achakzai, Zahri and Jamali were representing the Balochs.
Gilani called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to beware of common enemies and join hands for durable peace in the region.
“Certain forces are at work to destabilise Afghanistan and Karzai should not play in their hands. Instead we should get united to foil their machinations,” he said.
Replying to a question about increased load shedding, he said that a National Energy Conference was going to be held in Islamabad today (Monday) where all the stakeholders would discuss the problem. He, however, said that nation would hear good news in the conference.
He said that Punjab and Sindh had asked the federal government that they did not need water and discharge of water from reservoirs stopped which disturbed the hydel power generation.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk