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PM Gilani interview: Business as usual?
The PM says Pakistan seeks good relations with the US, which ‘won’t take long’.
PM says Pakistan wants relations with NATO and US based on mutual respect and clearly defined parameters. PHOTO: PID/FILE
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday that Pakistan seeks good relations with the US, based on mutual respect and clearly defined parameters, which, he added, “won’t take long”.
“We really want to have good relations with the US … I think that is doable. I think that it won’t take long,” Gilani said in an interview with The Associated Press (AP).
The prime minister added that new ties being negotiated with the US will ensure that the two countries “respected each other’s red lines”, regarding sovereignty and rules of engagement along the border.
Pakistan’s relations with the US took a turn for the worst when, on November 26, Nato launched air strikes in Mohmand Agency killing 24 Pakistani soldiers – the third such incident since 2008.
Following the raid, Pakistan shut down the Nato supply route, asked the US to vacate Shamsi Airbase and called for reviewing political, diplomatic and military ties with the US. Despite pleas from Afghan and Western leaders, Islamabad also stayed away from a conference on Afghanistan, currently being held in Bonn.
“We really want to enhance our strategic partnership [with the US] but at the same time we want to revisit [our cooperation] with US, Nato and Isaf, and that is the reason, we have referred this matter to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security,” Gilani said while referring to the cross-border attack, according to AP.
Expressing Pakistan’s resolve for peace in Afghanistan, Gilani said Pakistan will continue its role in this respect, adding that Pakistani people and security forces have rendered a lot of sacrifices in the war against terrorism.
“I think we have evolved some mechanisms, and we are ready to cooperate,” he said, regarding peace efforts in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan has suffered a lot because of the war against terrorism and extremism not only in the form of casualties of 30,000 innocent people but also of 5,000 brave soldiers, law enforcement agencies personnel and also in the form of economy,” he said.
“How can anybody doubt our intention after making so many sacrifices? We are committed,” the prime minister maintained.
About energy shortages in the country, PM Gilani said that Pakistan should also be provided with civil nuclear technology like India and there should not be any discrimination.
“We are a country where there is energy shortage. We have been talking with the US and there have been dozens of meetings,” he said, adding, “we need a civil-nuclear energy deal with the US.”
Boycotting Bonn will have a lasting impact
Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday that boycotting the Bonn conference will have a lasting impact on the country’s diplomatic relations, but stopped short of crediting the government with taking the “difficult decision”.
“The rulers are just trying to extend their rule; they have no concern with the people of Pakistan and their problems,” he said.
Qureshi was addressing a Hussainia conference at Raza hall in Multan.
Talking about the Nato attacks, he said that the government was never interested in resolving or responding to the issue, and added that the prime minister “got involved to set up politics for his son and to frame conspiracies against me in NA 148”.
“The prime minister is never interested in tackling national issues,” said Qureshi. APP
ADDITONAL INPUT BY OWAIS JAFRI IN MULTAN
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2011.
Read more:
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Reader Comments (27)
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Pakistan blinks under pressure. A climb-down. Aid is more important than peoples wishes.
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For that we need to end support to the Taliban and other Islamic Fascist groups that have been harbored, militarized and trained by our Ghairat Mand Army
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The relations between Pakistan and US should be on equal terms.
If US is ready to talk on equal terms, Pakistan will also ready to shake hand but we will not be taking any more dictation from US.
We know what we are supposed to do. Pakistan is not a toddler. It is a country which took independence from Great Britain 64 years ago. US was fortunate to take independence from Great Britain some 250 years ago. But we are from a fully mature nation.
Hope US will learn to respect our sovereignty and integrity. Time will speak. We are not going to fall into any trap any more.
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So, you still want something from America? .
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US is our ally so civil-nuclear deal shouldn’t be a problem right? oh wait…..
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“We are a country, where there is energy shortage, we have been talking with the US and there have been dozens of meetings…and they said the US would be assisting us in energy sector,” he said, adding, “we need a civil-nuclear energy deal with the US.”
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That was before you cut off the supply line, tried to torpedo a peace conference, refused to participate in an investigation and accused the USA of a premeditated attack. Why in the world should the USA help you with energy or anything else for that matter.Recommend
We want end to American games in this region …. weather it is creation of Taliban or destruction of Taliban, weather it is bribing of politicians or killing of politicians, weather it is destruction of economy of this country ….. American story must be finished in our country, we do not want to see them in any form
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@Geelani : Sir can you also please address the following points from your request to non discriminated treatment. How do you compare India with Pakistan ? Which of us invest more on arms compare to the total GDP of the country ? Which of us currently holds highest nuclear stockpile and continues to amass it ? How many nukes you want for India ? How many records shows extremism in India in defense establishment ? None. How many rallies in India actually speak of “Jihad”? None. How many organizations in India is accused of terrorism activity in other countries ? None. How many world class terrorists are hiding in India ? None. Which country openly calls Afghanistan as it’s backyard and is prepared to destabilize it if it does not create the government as per the likes of their’ military and intelligence establishment ? Pakistan. Which country calls terrorists as “strategic assets” and “freedom fighters”.Pakistan. Which country has a fragile and broke judicial system which is even acknowledged by countries creme politicians due to which there is no legal framework to punish terrorists who are viewed locally as heroes? Pakistan. Which country is increasingly backward thinking rather an free itself from religious extremism ? Pakistan!
Can you please explain what makes Pakistan “deserve” equal treatment as India ?
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Pakistan is not going to get civil nuclear technology deal with US or West. Remember AQ Khan ? nuclear smuggling to N Korea, Iran , China ? Things have gotten only worse since then. Remember Abbotabad ? Haqanni ? Mullah Omar and all the strategic assets of LeT ?
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Good….. this is the time to ask for a civil nuclear deal…….
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civil nuclear deal………………… is this the price that gilani is asking for 24 of our soldiers ……….
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the current government are traitors to pakistan. pakitanis are tired of war. pakistan used to be a stable country. we need a revolution like egypt and through these corrupt leaders who are robbing pakistan for aid (bribe). the soldiers killed, will be paid blood money to the govt. these crooks are helping destroy our country. impeach zardari!
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Energy is a commodity and it is for sale from Iran, India, China and other central countries. If you have money there is plenty of Electricity for sale. If you want it free than tough luck. Instead of complaining about hydro plants built by India you would have agreed to partnership and asked for a fair share of electricity. If the object is electricity shortage than why are you paying to high price lawyers to take India to International Court of Arbitration why not ask for 10-15% of electricity produced by those dams. India Iran and China has electricity for sale for a price. Sorry there is no free lunch. For civil Nuclear deal Kahan Raja Bhoj aur Kahan Gangu Teli.
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Ask China.
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No Sir Couple of Millions will do the trick…:(
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already …back with begging bowl…..
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Pakistan has not proven itself to be worthy of receiving such deal as they have exported the technology they stole from Europe to other states. They are still harbouring the father of Pakistani nuke. So how will any country trust the state with any technology. Is there any guarentee that they will not yse the yellow cake to make more bombs as a byproduct.
With all the happenings in Pakistan the government has not shoen that they can be trusted with the yellow cake.Build your pipeline from Iran and at the same time build your power stations with gas turbines which will be cheaper than nuke stations.
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@Malik:
Pakistani games are OK, just not American games.
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@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
You don’t even have a stable governing system yet. Your laws are not enforced. Riots break out if someone words something wrong. People are lynched on the basis of opinion. That’s far from all of the things I could list. You still have a long way to go for maturity.
You’re more like the dysfunctional child of the world family that people would feel wrong about abandoning and convincing themselves it actually can change for the better with enough effort and help. Not a mature stakeholder.
People tell themselves that “someday” you will be. However “someday” is most certainly not today.
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Talk is cheap. Has Pakistan EVER ‘committed itself to peace’?
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@Guddu:
International relations do not survive on whims….breakdown in relations today means nothing tomorrow…priorities keep changing…so there is nothing wrong.Recommend
in all calculations you have to take into account the number of people killed by fighters who arrack NATO forces from Pakistani soil
pakistani people talk of pride first they should stop killing of minorities, child marriages slave laour and religious extreemism
your army can not stand America for more than a few hours
people who advocate war with America are the one who will loose nothing, it will be the poor man who will suffer
be thankful to Zardari and Geelani who have saved Pakistan from the wrath of international community so far
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Yes , U,S. Is ready to help Pakistan on equal term only when there will be not a single terrorist organization in existance .
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Pakistan can get civil nuleur deal with US if it takes actions in punishing the Mumbai culprits, dismantling the Haqqani network & other training camps
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Excuse me, “Pakistan seeks good ties with the US”? It should be the other way around!! Our government must be the easiest to please on this planet….send in a few millions and everyone shuts up.
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@Blue eyed Indian:
Mr. India take a life, PM was addressing to US not India. Indian politicians are not less corrupt then Pakistani. Better to look into your own country.
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@ dr a k tewari, we will root out terrorism once america stops this ‘war OF terror’ which is breedng greater hatred and extremism as families of the innocent people killed take up arms to get revenge and start perceiving america as the enemy which it has shown itself to be.. you should read more, these terrorists are in most cases , not religious extremists but people sick of american atrocities in palestine, iraq, afghanistan, etc .. case in point: faisal shehzad, he was not a terrorist per se, he was rebelling against the millions of innocents who have been killed wounded, left homeless, desttitute, the women killed or widowed, the children killed or orphaned..
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