British Prime Minister telephones Gilani
ISLAMABAD, May 2 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that elimination of Osama Bin Laden, a foreigner, who had declared war against Pakistan and has been responsible for killing over 30,000 Pakistanis and martyrdom of over 5000 security forces personnel is a great victory of alliance against terrorism.The Prime Minister was talking to his UK counterpart David Cameron, who telephoned him on Monday evening to express solidarity with Pakistan.Gilani while reiterating his government’s resolute commitment to take war against terrorism to its logical conclusion stated that Pakistan will continue to play its constructive role for regional stability.
The Prime Minister nonetheless pointed out that the positive messaging about Pakistan rather than figure pointing was the need of the hour.
He underlined the fact that it was imperative for continuation of Pakistan’s national consensus to defeat the forces of extremism and terrorism and said Pakistan’s role should be duly recognized by the international community in particular by the think tank and media.
Pakistan had been cooperating with all the international intelligence agencies particularly of USA and UK in this regard and will continue to do so, he added.
Prime Minister Cameron regretted the negative comments about Pakistan in the aftermath of today’s death of Osama Bin Laden but assured Prime Minister Gilani that his government fully understood the ground realities in Pakistan and the pivotal role of government of Pakistan in the war against terror.
He expressed the hope that process of the reconciliation and reintegration in Afghanistan now would progress smoothly and expeditiously.
Prime Minister Gilani apprised his UK counterpart of his meeting with the US Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan early in the day and the fact that official level trilateral talks between Pakistan, USA and Afghanistan were due to take place tomorrow (Tuesday) in Islamabad.
The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s position that reconciliation process has to be Afghan led and Afghan owned and Pakistan would facilitate the process by extending its full assistance to the Afghan Government.
Prime Minister Cameron fondly recalled his recent very successful visit to Pakistan during which enhanced strategic dialogue between the two countries was formally launched.
Both leaders agreed to pursue the strategic dialogue process through concerted efforts of both the countries.