September 13, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday any action against militants “inside our territory is the sole right of Pakistan”.

“If anyone has some actionable and credible information, that can be passed on to us...., but we will desire that if there are any militants in our country, it is our right to take action against them and we can do that,” Mr Gilani told journalists at the Prime Minister’s secretariat.

“So we do not want anyone to interfere in our sovereignty.”

In reply to a question about recent statements of the United States and Britain on action in tribal areas, the prime minister said “the nation need not worry as we know the importance of Pakistan and we have to work for its sovereignty, independence, dignity and honour”.

About foreign policy, he said Pakistan had good relations with all countries, adding, “as far as the situation in tribal areas is concerned, it is Pakistan’s internal matter”.

The prime minister, however, stressed that Pakistan is against terrorism “as we have suffered a lot due to this menace and even lost our leader Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto”.

“We want peace in the country and not terrorism. We are taking action against this menace on our own”, he added.