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Friday, October 21, 2011
US should give peace a chance, says Gilani* Prime minister says Pak-US relationship should also go beyond terrorism
* US secretary of state says safe havens for extremists inside Pakistan must end
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday called upon US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to give peace a chance as envisaged in the All Parties Conference’s resolution, which reflects the sentiments of Pakistani nation. Gilani said this during his meeting with the US secretary of state, who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House. The prime minister welcomed Secretary Hillary Clinton and the members of her delegation followed by a meeting, which was held in a cordial and frank atmosphere. He reiterated the collective national view on the issue of peace in Afghanistan as articulated in the All Parties Conference’s resolution. Disagreements between the coalition partners in the war on terror should not undermine strategic relationship which is so vital for the promotion of mutual interests of the two countries, said the prime minister. The discussion also focused on the bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the fields of security, economy, energy and investment. Both the sides urged on the importance of positive messaging in public diplomacy to promote an enabling environment between the two countries. Gilani said that both the countries should complement each other to counter terrorism, adding that the relationship should also go beyond terrorism. The US secretary of state said, “I have too much respect for Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and for the country.” “We intend to push Pakistanis very hard as to what they are willing and able to do with us... to remove the safe havens and the continuing threats across the border to Afghans,” Clinton said. She warned terrorists “we are going to seek you in your safe havens” on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border. She recognised the importance of Pakistan in the context of peace and security in the region. She appreciated the APC resolution, which she said, was a right message from Pakistan to the world. In the meeting, the Pakistan’s side included Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, foreign secretary and principal secretary to the prime minister. Hilary Clinton was joined by CIA chief David Petraeus, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Martin Dempsey, Special US Representative on Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter and Lt General Douglas Lute. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk