ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani urged the United States on Friday to share the main features of its future roadmap for Afghanistan and to incorporate Pakistan’s viewpoint in it.

The prime minister was talking to Leon E. Panetta, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who had called on him at the Prime Minister’s House.

President Barack Osama is reported to be nearing a decision on the new US strategy for Afghanistan, which may include talks for bringing ‘sane’ Taliban elements into the government.

According to an official handout, the prime minister and the CIA chief exchanged views on the US policy review for Afghanistan.

Mr Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s concern that a surge of troops in Afghanistan might have negative implications for the situation in Balochistan. ‘The new US Afghan policy should not disturb regional balance in South Asia.’

The prime minister said it was imperative to remove misgivings, build trust and seek to align the concepts of Pakistan and the US in order to move forward in their strategic partnership.

He stressed the need for a close coordination between intelligence agencies of the two countries to effectively counter misperceptions.

Mr Panetta said his country was fully conscious of Pakistan’s pivotal role in the war against terrorism and for restoration of stability in Afghanistan.

‘The US considers Pakistan a strategic partner with whom it wants to build a long-term and sustained relationship even beyond the cooperation in countering the militancy and extremism.’

Mr Panetta agreed with the prime minister that operational functioning between the two militaries and intelligence agencies was the need of the hour for eliminating the terror threat.