ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday told a US Congressional delegation led by US House Speaker, John Boehner, that Washington should refrain from drone attacks and share credible intelligence with Pakistan to enable it to take action against terrorists itself.
The prime minister was talking to a Congressional delegation that called on him at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday. Prime Minister Gilani urged the US Congress to use its influence with the administration to make it agree to a joint strategy under which drone technology would be transferred to Pakistan. He impressed upon the need for positive messaging from both sides to help build trust in the interest of a long-term strategic partnership between the two countries.
While expressing satisfaction over the resumption of bilateral engagements between the two countries at the political, economic, military and intelligence levels, the prime minister stated that the US must not allow any isolated incident to hold the strategic relationship hostage.
The prime minister said that Pakistan was keenly looking forward to US Secretary of State’s visit to Pakistan in the third week of May for the next round of strategic dialogue. He hoped the dialogue would pave the way for fast tracking the disbursement of Kerry Lugar funds for high visibility power, energy, health, education and infrastructural projects. The prime minister stated that the US Congress has always contributed immensely towards shaping the Pakistan-US relationship and hoped that it will continue to do so under the leadership of Speaker Beohner.
He pointed out that the US Congress’ expedious authorisation for the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and the establishment of the Enterprise Fund that had been pending for a long time would help US investment, particularly in militancy-affected areas of Pakistan. “The goods produced in these areas and access to US markets will help the Pakistan government address root causes of terrorism like unemployment and poverty,” the prime minister added.
The prime minister also sought the assistance of the US Congress for the timely commencement of its multi-year defence commitment and counter insurgency capacity fund, which were crucial for building the capacity of Pakistan’s armed and security forces to help them take the campaign against extremism and militancy to its logical conclusion.
He appraised the US delegation of his recent visit to Kabul and his meetings with President Karzai and Chairman High Peace Council, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani. He said that Pakistan’s main message to the Afghan leadership and the country was that it should make concerted efforts to develop coherence between the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan for a common strategy to attain the shared objectives of peace and stability in the region. He hoped that Pakistan and the US would do more together to be on the same page with Afghanistan on its reconciliation and reintegration process.
Speaker Beohner, while commending Pakistan’s role as a frontline state in the war against terror, acknowledged Pakistan’s tremendous sacrifices. He assured the prime minister that the US would retain its long-term strategic partnership to defeat their common enemy.
Boehner informed the prime minister that while the US Congress was in the process of cutting down government spending to reduce the US budget deficit, it had not applied any cuts in aid to Pakistan in the 2011 budget passed this year; neither did it intend to do so in the next fiscal year’s budget. He highlighted that this was a clear recognition by the US Congress of Pakistan’s crucial role in the war against terror as well as its being an important strategic partner of the US.
The US Congressmen also agreed with the prime minister on the imperative of positive messaging from both sides through which the image of both countries among their people could improve. It was agreed that people-to-people contacts through exchange of parliamentary delegations and positive media interaction would help build trust and confidence.
The prime minister was talking to a Congressional delegation that called on him at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday. Prime Minister Gilani urged the US Congress to use its influence with the administration to make it agree to a joint strategy under which drone technology would be transferred to Pakistan. He impressed upon the need for positive messaging from both sides to help build trust in the interest of a long-term strategic partnership between the two countries.
While expressing satisfaction over the resumption of bilateral engagements between the two countries at the political, economic, military and intelligence levels, the prime minister stated that the US must not allow any isolated incident to hold the strategic relationship hostage.
The prime minister said that Pakistan was keenly looking forward to US Secretary of State’s visit to Pakistan in the third week of May for the next round of strategic dialogue. He hoped the dialogue would pave the way for fast tracking the disbursement of Kerry Lugar funds for high visibility power, energy, health, education and infrastructural projects. The prime minister stated that the US Congress has always contributed immensely towards shaping the Pakistan-US relationship and hoped that it will continue to do so under the leadership of Speaker Beohner.
He pointed out that the US Congress’ expedious authorisation for the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and the establishment of the Enterprise Fund that had been pending for a long time would help US investment, particularly in militancy-affected areas of Pakistan. “The goods produced in these areas and access to US markets will help the Pakistan government address root causes of terrorism like unemployment and poverty,” the prime minister added.
The prime minister also sought the assistance of the US Congress for the timely commencement of its multi-year defence commitment and counter insurgency capacity fund, which were crucial for building the capacity of Pakistan’s armed and security forces to help them take the campaign against extremism and militancy to its logical conclusion.
He appraised the US delegation of his recent visit to Kabul and his meetings with President Karzai and Chairman High Peace Council, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani. He said that Pakistan’s main message to the Afghan leadership and the country was that it should make concerted efforts to develop coherence between the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan for a common strategy to attain the shared objectives of peace and stability in the region. He hoped that Pakistan and the US would do more together to be on the same page with Afghanistan on its reconciliation and reintegration process.
Speaker Beohner, while commending Pakistan’s role as a frontline state in the war against terror, acknowledged Pakistan’s tremendous sacrifices. He assured the prime minister that the US would retain its long-term strategic partnership to defeat their common enemy.
Boehner informed the prime minister that while the US Congress was in the process of cutting down government spending to reduce the US budget deficit, it had not applied any cuts in aid to Pakistan in the 2011 budget passed this year; neither did it intend to do so in the next fiscal year’s budget. He highlighted that this was a clear recognition by the US Congress of Pakistan’s crucial role in the war against terror as well as its being an important strategic partner of the US.
The US Congressmen also agreed with the prime minister on the imperative of positive messaging from both sides through which the image of both countries among their people could improve. It was agreed that people-to-people contacts through exchange of parliamentary delegations and positive media interaction would help build trust and confidence.
