Gilani appreciates Obama’s acknowledgement of support of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD,May 2 (APP):Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has expressed his appreciation of President Obama’s statement in which he duly acknowledged Pakistan for its support and cooperation leading to the hideout of Osama Bin Laden.The Prime Minister emphasized the need for constructive and positive messaging from both the sides on Monday’s operation and stressed that the sensitivities in this regard must be given due importance rather than giving it a spin.He was talking to the US delegation led by Ambassador Marc Grossman, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan here at Prime Minister House.                        
The Prime Minister welcomed the fact that through the recent visits of Director General ISI (Inter Services Intelligence), Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary to USA and Marc Grossman’s current visit to Islamabad, both sides have been able to resume the process for fourth round of strategic dialogue.
Pakistan, he added, was looking forward to Secretary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan later this month for the fourth round of dialogue which he hoped would pave the way for important projects in water, energy and economic development sectors in Pakistan.
He also welcomed the fact that trilateral dialogue between Pakistan, United States and Afghanistan at official level would be held on Tuesday to prepare the ground for ministerial level trilateral meeting, hopefully next month.
While dilating upon his meeting with President Karzai and his team in Kabul last month, the Prime Minister cautioned that media and think tanks of US should avoid creating misunderstanding between the two countries on Afghan issue.
The Prime Minister reiterated that his government fully believed that Pakistan, US and Afghanistan should form the core group to coordinate their position on the reconciliation and reintegration process, which he emphasized must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. As far the strategic documents to be negotiated between US and Afghanistan on International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and US role, the Prime Minister emphatically told that it was a bilateral matter between the countries.
The Prime Minister said that his government would ensure timely implementation of Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. The ministers of commerce of the two countries, he added, are scheduled to meet in the immediate future to clear the bottlenecks in its implementation.
The US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan thanked the Prime Minister and his government for their steadfast cooperation and support in war against terrorism and intelligence cooperation, which eventually led to elimination of Osama Bin Laden.
He termed Foreign Secretary’s visit to US for consultations after the Prime Minister’s visit to Kabul as very helpful in promoting better understanding between the two countries on Afghan reconciliation issue.
He agreed with the Prime Minister that Pakistan, US and Afghanistan should form a core group and enhance their cooperation in this process.
He assured the Prime Minister that US would keep Pakistan fully apprised about the US policy on Afghanistan and would share the progress of the strategic documents with Afghanistan.
He stated that Kerry Lugar Bill assistance would help the Government of Pakistan in carrying out the economic reforms which is considered to be imperative for the revival of Pakistan’s economy.