July 27, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 23, 1429

LONDON, July 26: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has described the war on terror as Pakistan’s own war --- a war to defend peace in the country and to contribute to world peace.

Talking to the media at Heathrow airport after his arrival on Saturday en route from Islamabad to Washington, the prime minister said Pakistan was fighting terrorism in the interest of its own progress, prosperity and development and not to “oblige any outside entity”.

He was replying to a question regarding the recent statement of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging Pakistan to “do more on terrorism”.

He said he would be meeting Ms Rice in Washington, “and I will be able to inform you how the talks go after this meeting”.

In reply to another question, he said that at the political level India-Pakistan relations were on course. “I have congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on winning a vote of confidence and perhaps I would have an occasion to meet him in Colombo during the Saarc summit.”

He gave an impression that the recent statement of the Indian foreign secretary that relations between the two countries were under stress after the bombing outside the Indian embassy in Kabul would not make any difference to the ongoing peace process.

Mr Gilani said Pakistan and India shared a lot of commonalities and “we have decided to settle all our outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, through dialogue”.

He rejected a perception that his government lacked coherence and said he was in full control of the government and those who believed otherwise were being misled by rumours.

In reply to a question, he said he had no plans to meet Nawaz Sharif in London. “Media reports to the effect are untrue.

“There is this impression in the country that the leaders of Pakistan meet only when we are abroad and do not do so in Pakistan. So we have decided not to meet when we are in foreign countries. Mr Sharif also agrees. He will be coming to Pakistan soon and I will make a courtesy call on him then,” he added.

The prime minister was received by High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan and officials of the HC.Mr Gilani’s entourage includes his adviser on interior Rehman Malik, Information Minister Sherry Rehman and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani, PM’s press secretary Zahid Bashir and Foreign Office officials.