July 09, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 5, 1429

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan is working for world peace and stability by playing the role of a frontline state in the war against terrorism and extremism.

“We are working for the whole humanity and peace in the world...the world needs to support us,” the prime minister told reporters at a press conference along with D-8 leaders at the conclusion of the 6th summit of the grouping here on Tuesday.

He said his government was following a three-pronged strategy to combat terrorism which focussed on dialogue with peaceful and non-militant tribesmen, socio-economic development of the areas bordering Afghanistan and use of force if agreements were violated. He said the government would not talk to militants or those refusing to lay down arms.

Mr Gilani described the presence of three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan as one of the causes of the problem and said his government was taking steps to check the cross-border movement of terrorists. “It is difficult to stop the movement across the 2,000km-long porous border.”

He said the issue of terrorism and extremism had not been discussed at the summit.

The prime minister said Pakistan was not behind the Monday’s suicide car-bombing at the Indian embassy in Kabul.

“Why should Pakistan destabilise Afghanistan? A stable Afghanistan is in our own interest. We want stability in the region,” he said, adding that Pakistan itself was a victim of terrorism.

In reply to a question about bombings in Islamabad and Karachi, Mr Gilani said the authorities were investigating who were behind the attacks.

—Agencies