Prime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gilani warned Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday against playing into the hands of certain forces that were not in favour of a stable Afghanistan and were therefore obstructing Pak-Afghan collaboration. Talking to a select group of reporters at his residence, the PM said he had asked Afghan President Hamid Karzai to join ranks with Pakistan to restore peace. He categorically stated that certain forces that were not in favour of a stable Afghanistan were obstructing Pak-Afghan collaboration, and asked President Karzai to avoid playing into their hands. The PM said it was a reality that Pakistan was a strategically important country of the region and its major role in Afghan peace was a reality.
He said a stable Afghanistan was in the best interest of Pakistan. Gilani said that in line with its national interests, Pakistan must adopt a moderate way in establishing relations with other states especially, Afghanistan and the United States. To a question about the killing of Afghan High Peace Council chairman Burhanuddin Rabbani and Afghan allegations of Pakistani involvement, Gilani said that at Rabbani’s funeral, he had extended full support to the Afghan government in the investigation of the assassination as well as action against the culprits.
Gilani also denied the coalition government had signed any secret deal with the United States in the war on terror, and said not a single pact had been inked. Responding to a question about the dialogue process with warring groups, he expressed the commitment of his government to bring peace to the tribal areas via dialogue, but said a decision in this regard would be taken by the authoritative committee to be constituted by parliamentarians and politicians. He said the committee would hold its meeting on a monthly basis and would answer to parliament.
NO ACTION ON PAKISTANI SOIL: He also said the US, through some outer sources, had assured Pakistan after the All-Parties Conference (APC) that Washington would not take action on Pakistani soil in future. He said efforts were made to invite all the political parties to the APC keeping in view the national importance of each party. Gilani sought to dispel the impression that no Baloch leaders were invited to the APC, citing the presence of Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Zafarullah Khan Jamali. Refuting the media reports of an end to back-door diplomacy with India, the premier said there was no truth to rumours as nobody in the media could evaluate when diplomatic efforts started or ended.
Replying to question about increased load shedding, he said the government would give good news to the nation soon. He said the National Energy Conference was going to be held in Islamabad on Monday (today) where all the stakeholders would participate and share their views, concerns and present possible solution to the problem.