Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday that the government was not taking dictation from anybody for action in North Waziristan, but it would take action if its writ was challenged.
“We will think whether there is any need for it. We will not interfere in the matter unnecessarily,” Gilani said in a live TV show titled “Prime Minister Online”. “We are not fond of any military action and we want to have an exit strategy,” he added.
He said the government was ready to hold a dialogue with militants on the condition that they disband and surrender their weapons to the political agents of their areas. “But if they (militants) will challenge the writ of the government, target innocent people and attack cities, public property, installations, police stations and railways, the government will take action against them,” he added. Speaking about the level of trust deficit in relations between Pakistan and the United States after US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s visit, the prime minister said both the countries had a strategic partnership, but said there “are ups and down in our relations”.
