Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday sought a blueprint of the future strategy on Afghanistan.
“A strategy to resolve the Afghan crisis should be such that it does not destabilise Pakistan side of the border. Stability in Afghanistan means Pakistan’s political and economic stability,” the prime minister said while talking to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski who called on him at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
Sikorski is familier with Pakistan and Afghanistan from the days of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, when he had covered the war as a journalist.
The prime minister said it was in Pakistan’s own interest to root out terrorism and it was not doing it to please others.
“We have the resolve and the will to fight terrorism. However, the people of Pakistan are disappointed that their sacrifices, both in human and economic terms did not get due recognition and support from the international community,” Gilani said.
He said terrorism was a global phenomenon that could be countered effectively through cooperation of the international community.
Pakistan’s role, he said, could be more effective if the international partners in this war fulfilled their commitments for economic support as well as helping to improve the capabilities and capacity of its security forces.
The prime minister also elaborated that Pakistan and the US enjoyed good defence and intelligence cooperation.
“Pakistan has shared intelligence to helped trace high value targets. But when time came to share the victory, Pakistan received only blame. This has damaged the trust that would need to be bridged through sincere efforts and understanding of each others’ expectations,” he said.
The prime minister said that the country was keenly looking forward to the next Pakistan-EU Summit that could be held in Islamabad, which he said, would greatly facilitate to develop closer linkages with the European Union.
He hoped Poland would support Pakistan to attain the GSP Plus status and facilitating market access for Pakistan’s exports to EU.
The Polish foreign minister assured Pakistan of his country’s and the EU’s support.
