By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Monday said Pakistan greatly valued its relationship with the United States and was keen to strengthen it in diplomatic, political, economic, defense and security fields.
Gilani said this while talking to Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, who called on him here at Prime Minister’s House Monday morning.
“We are desirous of a broad-based and long-term relationship focusing especially on bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, investment, science and technology, educational and cultural fields with a view to bringing the people of the two countries closer to each other,” Gilani said.
Terrorism is a global phenomenon and a serious threat to humanity ruining global peace and economic development and it is often not realized that one incident of terrorism in Pakistan leads to flight of foreign capital from the country besides discouraging the flow of foreign investment, Gilani said.
“Pakistan is therefore fighting terrorism and extremism in its own national interest and not to serve the objectives of another country,” he said.
Pakistan is convinced that there is a need to address the factors that encourage terrorism, Gilani said, adding that with this in view, the government in consultation with the coalition partners has adopted a three-pronged strategy to deal with terrorism by initiating political dialogue with those elements who have laid down arms and have joined mainstream political activity, accelerating the pace of economic development and reserving the right to use force if agreements are violated.
“We will however never negotiate with militants nor allow foreigners to use our soil against another country,” Gilani said.
He pointed out that the government had received a lot of public support for the action being taken against the militants in tribal areas during the last couple of days.
Pakistan is keen to see a stable and strong Afghanistan in its neighborhood which is equally good for both Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said, adding “there can be no meaningful progress and development without stability in the region.”
Boucher said the United States had great interest in the success of democratic government and economic well-being of the people of Pakistan. The U.S. is ready to help resettle Afghan refugees in their country.