ISLAMABAD, Sep 17: British Secretary of Justice Jack Straw has urged the United States to respect Pakistan's sovereignty, keeping in view the remarkable role it was playing in war on terror.

He was delivering a lecture arranged by Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue (IRD) of the Islamabad International Islamic University (IIUI) on Tuesday. University's Rector Dr Manzoor Ahmad, its President Dr Anwar Hussain Siddiqui and IRD’s Executive Director Dr Mumtaz Ahmad also spoke on the occasion.

Speaking on “Pakistan and the United Kingdom: A Living Bridge”, Jack Straw said that Pakistan and the United Kingdom enjoyed deep-rooted relations. About Great Britain, he said that his country respected Islam and Muslims a lot. For example Islam is second largest religion in his country and it is also fast growing religion in whole Europe. He said that in his own constituency 60,000 Pakistanis lived.

Straw also paid rich tributes to Ms Benazir Bhutto for her struggle for democracy. He also expressed his satisfaction over restoration of democracy after February 18 polls and hoped that the democratic process would be strengthened in future as well. He advocated that democracy was best form of the Government as it guaranteed well being of the people.

Jack Straw stressed upon the US not to violate Pakistan's territorial borders as it might turn out to be counter productive. About British forces operating in Afghanistan, Mr Straw said that those forces are part of Nato forces which has no mandate to enter Pakistani territories.

He also made it clear that present war in tribal areas was not against tribal people but against Al-Qaida. In reply to a question about non-admission of Turkey into the European Union despite its secular system of Government, Mr. Straw said that UK has very clear stand on this issue and his country wants Turkey into the fold of EU.

Dr Manzoor Ahamd, Rector of the International Islamic University, Islamabad said that main purpose of this University was to open dialogue channels among followers of different religions and political ideologies.

Dr Anwar Hussain Saddiqui and Dr Mumtaz Ahmad thanked Jack Straw for visiting the International Islamic University, Islamabad.

The lecture was largely attended by faculty, executive officers, students and staff members of the university. Students of various universities in the federal capital also attended the lecture.