By IANS,
Islamabad: Responding to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remarks during her recent visit to India that New Delhi must play a more assertive role in Asia, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan will not accept the hegemony of any country in the region.
“We don’t want any Chaudhry (regional chief) in the region,” he told reporters Saturday after an awards ceremony at the PM secretariat, the APP news agency reported.
Gilani was responding to a statement by Clinton in which she reportedly urged India to match its economic progress by taking a more assertive political role in Central and East Asia.
Clinton was on a three-day visit to India July 18-20 for the second strategic dialogue between the two countries, covering counter-terror cooperation and implementation of the civil nuclear deal, among others.
Describing India as “an emerging regional and global power,” Clinton sought to infuse a fresh momentum in bilateral ties that showed some signs of drift after the landmark visit of President Barack Obama to that country.
She said: “India is a global leader. And the US wholeheartedly supports this development and sees great benefits in our growing partnership”, while reiterating Washington’s backing for “a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member”.