July 02, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 27, 1429

KARACHI, July 1: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday reiterated the high priority Pakistan attaches to its strategic relationship with the United States and its desire of expanding bilateral cooperation in all fields, including economic cooperation and in defence, security, education, health, energy and science and technology fields.

He spelt this out while talking to a US Congressional delegation, led by US Congressman Gary Ackerman, chairman of the sub-committee on the Middle East and South Asian affairs, who called on him at the Sindh Governor’s House on Tuesday evening. The delegation included Ms Sheila Jackson (co-chair of the Pakistan Caucus), and others, besides the US Ambassador in Pakistan Ms Anne W. Patterson.

Mr Gilani reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to fighting terrorism in all its manifestation, but at the same time he stressed the need to address the root cause of the problem, which stems from socio-economic disparity and poverty.

He asked the international community to do more to help Pakistan improve its economy, especially in view of the steep rise in the price of oil and food.

Mr Gilani was of the view that early setting up of the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) would stimulate economic activity in the designated areas of the NWFP and Balochistan, in addition to assuring access to the US market for the goods produced in the tribal areas. This, he said, would be an effective way of defeating terrorism and extremism.

The prime minister pointed out that Pakistan was firmly committed to fighting terrorism and in this process, former prime minister and chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life. Referring to the ongoing controversial peace process in the tribal areas, Mr Gilani said the government, in consultation with the coalition partners, has adopted a three-pronged strategy to fight terrorism: entering into a political dialogue with those elements who have renounced terrorism by laying down arms, accelerating economic development in the country, especially in the tribal areas and resorting to military means only if the agreements are violated.

He said his government has not signed any agreement with the militants nor will it allow foreigners to use Pakistan’s soil against another country.

The prime minister said the government is committed to restoring the 1973 constitution in its true form to ensure sovereignty and supremacy of the parliament, rule of law and independence of the judiciary. He said that all important policy matters and decisions on key national issue are being taken by the parliament.

While discussing the situation in Afghanistan, the prime minister said that Pakistan desires Afghanistan to be stable and prosperous because a peaceful Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan and the region.

The prime minister said that Pakistan is making strenuous efforts to strengthen security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, including the installation of a biometric system at entry points. He said Pakistan has also offered to fence the border.

He said there is a need for better monitoring of the border from the Afghan side as the Pakistani side has 900 check-posts, compared to about 100 such posts on the Afghan side, which is inadequate.

With regard to relations with India, Mr Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s desire to have good neighbourly relations with New Delhi, stressing the need for an early settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

The delegation appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in fighting extremism and terrorism and expressed the confidence that democracy would lead Pakistan towards progress and prosperity. They said that the US Congress would extend all possible support to Pakistan as the US has great affection for the people of Pakistan and its newly elected government.

The adviser to the PM on national security Mehmud Ali Durrani, acting foreign secretary and senior government officials also attended the meeting.