By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that international community is willing to extend every help and cooperation to make Pakistan strong, stable and secure as it is in the interest of the world.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday after his return from Turkey where he met various world leaders and addressed the World Economic Forum, Gilani said the world is fully cognizant of the problems Pakistan was facing in the wake of global financial crisis.
He said the international community is also aware of the challenges Pakistan has to tackle in its war against terror. “The whole world is thinking of helping Pakistan in the present economic crisis, they have great feelings for Pakistan. A stable Pakistan is in the interest of the whole world,” he said.
Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said that whosoever is elected as the President of the United States, he will have to improve relations with Pakistan.
He said during his meetings with various world leaders both in China and Turkey he explained to them the ‘3Ps’- peace, progress and prosperity – for the tribal areas in the war against terror.
He said he told the world leaders, and they agreed, that air strikes by America and NATO forces inside Pakistani territory are counterproductive in the war against terror.
He said militants are being isolated from tribes and such attacks force them to again take up arms against their own people and indulge in terrorist activities.
Pakistan, he added, has asked the world leaders to use their influence on NATO and US to refrain from such incursions.
He informed the journalists that he will be having a meeting with US ambassador where he will raise the issue and Afghan President Karzai has also told him that he will take the matter with NATO.
Replying to a question about loan from IMF, the Prime Minister said the government is negotiating with the international financial organizations and decision will be in the best national interest.
He said that 12 out of the G-20 countries are the members of the ASEM and the G-20 summit in Washington must pay attention to the needs of the underdeveloped countries.
About the much awaited expansion in the cabinet, the Prime Minister said “you will hear good news on day after tomorrow.”
On the question of getting oil on deferred payment from Iran, he said Pakistan will welcome such a gesture from the friendly country.
He said Pakistan wants to have friendly relations with all its neighbours and it was not right to say that they were not cordial with Iran.
He said Benazir Bhutto was a true leader of the nation and it was the responsibility of the PPP government to implement her manifesto.
Replying to a question, the Prime Minister clarified that no name has been mentioned in the FIR registered by PPP regarding the death threats to Benazir Bhutto.
He said Pakistan wants to go ahead with the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline without India and Pakistan will welcome both India and China if these two countries want to join later.
Replying to a question about introducing secular education system in Pakistan on the pattern of Turkey, he clarified that he did not want to criticize the present education system in Pakistan.
He said that Ulema have played vital role in many countries to counter the extremist elements and Pakistan was looking into this aspect.
He stressed the need of uniformity in education system to meet international challenges.
Prime Minister Gilani said during his visit to Turkey he had useful meetings with the Turkish counterpart, President and Speaker of Turkey’s assembly. He said they had complete unanimity of views on various issues.
He also mentioned his trilateral meeting with Afghan President Karzai and Turkish Prime Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which he said, the three countries discussed regional cooperation.
He recalled Turkey’s role during the 2006 Pak-Afghan grand jirga which brought Pakistan and Afghanistan further closer.
He said he attended the 85th anniversary celebrations of Turkey as chief guest and also attended the World Economic Forum.
Prime Minister Gilani said members of all the political parties were part of his delegation including ANP, MQM, PML-N, PML-Q, PML-F, JUI and member from FATA.
He said he held bilateral talks with Turkish leaders and both the countries agreed to increase the trade volume to one billion dollars from the present 700 million dollars.
Pakistan and Turkey, he added, has great potential in improving their already cordial relations in fields such as culture, education, agriculture, defence and trade.