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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firodus Ashiq Awan said on Thursday that Pakistan highly valued its relations with the United States but they must be based on mutual respect and trust.
Talking to a US media delegation in Islamabad, Dr Firdous said that the recommendations presented by the Parliament Committee on National Security were in line with the people's aspirations, which would serve as a guideline for relations with the US in future.
She said that Pakistan had sacrificed a great deal in the war against terrorism but unfortunately its role had not been duly acknowledged by the international community.
Dr Firdous told the visiting US journalists that Pakistan was a functioning democracy. Media enjoys full freedom and there is no restriction on freedom of expression as the people's government after coming to power abolished all black laws against media introduced by the previous dictatorial regime, she added.
She said that the Pakistan Peoples Party believed in freedom of expression and it was part of its manifesto. The Information Minister said that judiciary in Pakistan was also independent and the civil society was vibrant.
She said that exchange of journalists programme between Pakistan and the US would help bridge the communication gap between the two countries.
