LONDON – Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the democratic system in Pakistan will keep going in spite of the difficult circumstances. He said reports that the government had granted permission for drone strikes on Balochistan were just a part of disinformation.
Talking to TheNation before leaving Britain for Pakistan on Thursday, the Prime Minister said President ObamaÂ’s statement was very encouraging for Pakistan in which he had vowed to promote security and prosperity of Pakistan and to honour its sovereignty.
“Pakistan appreciates Obama’s statement in which he said that the US relations with Pakistan are not limited to partnership in the war against terror. Islamabad is considering the implications of the new US policy. Obama administration has taken us into confidence on this policy,” he said.
He further said his government was collecting more information about the new policy. He said Gen Stanley McChrystal and Admiral Mike Mullen were coming to Pakistan who would formulate a plan with the coordination of our Army and the government so that the new US policy might not cast negative effects on Pakistan.
The Prime Minister declared the news regarding attempt on CJÂ’s life and his own dismissal as baseless.
He said that the decision of transfer of the National Command Authority to him by the President was an evidence of the PresidentÂ’s trust in him. When asked whether there were any differences between the government and the GHQ, the Prime Minister said such wishes would never come true.
Earlier, staunchly defending his governmentÂ’s efforts to crack down on Al-Qaeda militants, Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani said Pakistan does not believe Osama bin Laden is sheltering within its borders.
He also said he wanted more clarity on new US war strategy in Afghanistan. Gilani said his government could not yet decide how and if it could implement WashingtonÂ’s new approach.
“We are studying that new policy. We need more clarity on it,” he said after talks in London with his British counterpart Gordon Brown. “After, when we get more clarity on the situation, then we will see how, if we can implement on that plan,” he told reporters in a joint Press conference with Brown.
“I personally feel the military action is not the solution for problems. Therefore we must have an exit policy,” Gilani added. “Military action is only 10 per cent. The 90 per cent is that you have to strengthen, you have to complement with the political decisions, the social, cultural input in those areas.”
Gilani publicly clashed with Brown, who on Sunday urged Islamabad to hunt down Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri. “I don’t think that Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan,” Gilani said.
“We have a good intelligence and defence cooperation with the United States,” he said, adding that “if there is any credible or actionable information that can be shared with Pakistan”, it should be forthcoming.
Gilani also disputed Brown’s oft-repeated claim that more than two-thirds of the terror plots against Britain have roots in Pakistan. “I don’t agree with this information,” he said.
“There have been Uzbeks, Chechens, Arabs, Taliban from Afghanistan… therefore we are fighting with everybody but we have been very successful. Most of them now are not in Pakistan. They might be in Afghanistan. Therefore I think we are extremely successful in handling the situation.”
At Thursday’s talks at his Downing Street office, Brown pledged more money for Pakistan’s efforts in its border regions. “The international community expects much of Pakistan,” Brown said, adding “What we’ve all got to do is work together (and) step up our efforts. This is your fight, but it’s also Britain’s fight.”
Brown offered Pakistan enhanced security cooperation and lauded Pakistan’s determination to fight against the extremists and terrorists. “We are all working together with a common goal to fight extremism,” Brown said and added “There is determination on both sides of the border and they can deny Al-Qaeda and Taliban any space.”
He was also appreciative of PakistanÂ’s democratic government for bringing all the political parties together to step up efforts against violent extremists.
“I assure you of full support of the United Kingdom in this regard,” he added. Without giving any breakdown or nationalities, Brown hinted at further increase in number of troops in Afghanistan to 300,000 by 2011 and said gradually the balance of the troops will shift in favour of the Afghan security forces to manage their own affairs.