PM Gilani interview: Business as usual?

The PM says Pakistan seeks good relations with the US, which ‘won’t take long’.

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 6^th, 2011.