Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that some elements did not want amicable relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and were creating disturbance.
He said this while condemning the cross-border attack held in Chitral a few days back. The prime minister hoped that relations between the two neighbouring countries would strengthen in near future and “such incidents cannot affect the brotherly ties between the two countries.”
Talking to the journalists at the State Guest House, he said that safeguarding national interest was of supreme importance for his government. “Pakistan is in the middle of the fight against terrorism and plays key role in eliminating terror from the region,” said the prime minister.
About cross border attack in Chitral, he said that the Foreign Office had protested to the Afghan government on the issue.
“Pakistan is a powerful country and can look any country in the eyes on national interest,” he said, adding that Pakistan wanted to maintain friendly relations with the United States (US) on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interest without compromising on each other’s national interests.
Gilani said, “We have explained to the US government that if it is answerable to Congress, then we are equally accountable to the Parliament”.
To a query, the prime minister said there was no question of raising fingers at Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism.