September 16, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 15, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sep 15: There is complete unanimity of views between the government and the army over the issue of border violations, according to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Talking to reporters at an Iftar-dinner hosted by Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri, he said Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and under no circumstance would it act irresponsibly.

Expressing the hope that the matter of air strikes by US forces inside Pakistani territory would be resolved diplomatically, he said President Asif Ali Zardari would raise the issue with the British government in his talks in London and with the US authorities during his forthcoming visit to the United States.

Referring to relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, he said these would be strengthened, adding that the kingdom had always stood by Pakistan during crisis.

APP adds: Prime Minister Gilani assured reporters that the president and the government would diplomatically convince them (Britain and US) to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.

“Many countries are supporting Pakistan’s point of view and … there is unanimity of views between Pakistan and the US,” Mr Gilani said. The prime minister said he had asked National Security Advisor Mehmood Ali Durrani to communicate to his US counterpart Pakistan’s concerns over its territorial sovereignty and integrity.

“When I met President Bush, he asked me what should he say and I told him that he (should) say that the US respected Pakistan’s sovereignty and supported democracy, and he said that,” Mr Gilani said.