Pakistan

US cannot succeed without Pakistan: Gilani

Pakistan not part of the problem, but can play a vital role in turning the tide against terror.

Agencies April 18, 2011

ISLAMABAD:

The United States will fail if Pakistan does not succeed in its war against terrorism, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said during an interview to Russian state-run news agency Novosti on Sunday.

Terming terrorism an international issue and highlighting Pakistan’s status as a front-line state, Prime Minister Gilani said that US “has now realised that Pakistan is not part of the problem, but it can play an important role in efforts to solve this problem”.

Terrorism, he said, recognised no boundaries or religion and its sole objective was to create instability and it operated on foreign agenda. He said that drone attacks were counterproductive as they created sympathies for the terrorists. He said that Pakistan had rendered great sacrifices in the war against terrorism, which was being acknowledged by the international community, adding that Pakistan’s nuclear programme was completely safe.

Referring to the cost paid by Pakistan in the war on terror, Gilani said that Pakistan’s economy has also suffered a lot. He said he hoped that the US “will soon accept that Pakistan had an important role in the solution of war against terrorism”.

Replying to a question, he said that Pakistan and the US were in this war together and if Pakistan fails, the US will also fail. Commenting on the status of the ties between Pakistan and Russia, Prime Minister Gilani said both countries enjoyed strategic relations since 1948 and both countries were working on a common strategy despite all kinds of fluctuations since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (15)

Maria | 13 years ago | Reply @Cautious: India has been terrorizing Kashmir since 1947. Not to mention all the criminals India sends via Afghanistan to hurt innocents. You Indians should know.

Mehreen Bhatti | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan is currently facing many challenges. Terrorism is acting as a termite from within. The state is spending a tremendous amount on security at the expense of development, healthcare, education and community wellbeing. This issue is threatening the existence of 89 percent of the population of Pakistan at the sustenance level. Pakistani society is facing the lingering challenge of fault-lines in its class structure. The nouveau riche are a source of discontent for the general population that can hardly make both ends meet. Despite all the sacrifices made, Pakistan is struggling alone in tackling these issues. The world has seen many a time that Pakistanis have the resilience to rise from the ashes. The US government should realise the sensitivities in Pakistan. The issue pertaining to Raymond Davis is actually a crisis analogous to the fault-lines of Pakistani society. If the US wishes to solve this issue with sincerity rather than imperial hubris, it must respect the Pakistani government and find out a solution rationally.

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Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply Maybe the article should read - USA cannot succeed so long as Pakistan harbors terrorist.

Malik | 13 years ago | Reply Long live Pakistan. Pakistan is an idea. Idiology of Pakistan strengthen the Muslims of this world. In-Sha-Allah Pakistan will succeed in every walk of life. Pakistan will defeat / destroy his enimies.

chandran | 13 years ago | Reply US cannot succeed without Pakistan: Gilani he saying confidently because Taliban claim training 1,000 bombers at secret camps both aricles appeared in the same paper at the same time hahaha

anand singh | 13 years ago | Reply US cannot succeed without Pakistan. Us is not succeeding because of Pakistan. Both of the above are correct , Pakistan as the world sees it is both a part of the problem and also holds the key to the problem. Pk today has become a nation with two and a half faces - one being the hard core religious fundamental which Zia initiated /nurtured & whose effects are visible now & getting worse by the day. The second , a rational, humane nation with room for all as Jinnah wanted. Last the half face of the ISI / Army which has its own agenda away from that of the Govt in Islamabad. This face sides with both the other faces to suit itself .

Blunt! | 13 years ago | Reply Nither can Pak without US's Alms!

Frank Robinson | 13 years ago | Reply US can succeed with a strong Afghanistan. So far unfortunately Pakistan's role has been somewhat ambiguous. More cooperation is needed which will help both sides.

rifaye(india) | 13 years ago | Reply and pakistan cant survive without US, Mr Prime Minister. Ur defence equiment and annual budget is primarly depend on US. remember, US can walk out of afghanistan, perhaps with bad memory ( like vietnam days ), and get back to its business. but u guys cant.U r survivial as a soverign nation is at stake.

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Gilani: " He said he hoped that the US “will soon accept that Pakistan had an important role in the solution of war against terrorism”. " Yes, the US has finally woken up to the fact that the Pakistani Army was two timing the US military with jihadists.

Ailia | 13 years ago | Reply US can Never win a war in Afghanistan, with or without Pakistan. I don't see any logic inPM Gilani's statement. I think its time Paksitabn to disassociate from US and its policies in Afghanistan. Win is a far cry even if US can have face saving in Afghanistan, it will be a big feat.

hassan | 13 years ago | Reply Gilani: "if Pakistan fails, the US will also fail." Reminds me of the comment made by Irfan Hussain, the well-known columnist: "Pakistan is the only country that comes to the negotiating table with a gun pointed to its own head." If Pakistan fails, our nuclear arsenal will fall into the hands of the militants, and they will use this to destroy US. So, if you don't want to be destroyed, you better cooperate with us. Mr Gilani means this?

Resident of Allama Iqbal Town | 13 years ago | Reply Blah blah blah

John | 13 years ago | Reply Barking at the wrong tree. Russians still remember the role PAK played when they were in Afghanistan. If US fails in Afghanistan due to lack of PAK support as Gilani sees it, whom does it hurt most. " the US “will soon accept that Pakistan had an important role in the solution of war against terrorism”. The US and NATO knew that from day one, it will be news for them to hear that only now PAK realizes her role. Finance minister is saying to IMF that parliament is the problem in country's failure in its economic reform. Now the PM's statement conforms it all for NATO as well.

Raja | 13 years ago | Reply can Pakistan succeed? with or without USA?

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