Stable Afghanistan in Pakistan’s interest: Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, reiterating support to Afghan led and Afghan owned peace process, said on Tuesday that an independent, prosperous, stable and sovereign Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s interest.
He, however, emphasized that Pakistan did not want an Afghan solution that could destabilise Pakistan as was the case last time when three million Afghan refugees took shelter in Pakistan and are still in Pakistan.
Talking to a five-member UK delegation led by Sir Peter Ricketts, the National Security advisor here at the prime minister house said Pakistan wants early return of the Afghan refugees with honour and dignity.
The prime minister said an Afghan delegation would visit Pakistan soon. He said his government would extend full co-operation in the investigation of the gruesome murder of Professor Burhanuddin who was a great friend of Pakistan and said his murder was a setback to the peace process.
The meeting, part of the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and the UK, also discussed other components including counter-terrorism co-operation, trade and commerce relations, financial macro economic stabilisation, development assistance and cultural co-operation.
Gilani recalled his meetings and joint press interaction with the British prime minister at the Commonwealth Summit in Perth along with Canadian prime minister, Australian and Nigerian President regarding polio eradication initiative.
Gilani appreciated the assistance of the UK particularly in the field of health and education that would go a long way to help Pakistan meet the Millennium Development Goals.
He mentioned that the Council of Common Interests, representing all the provinces including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, had passed a unanimous resolution on setting the national standards for education and enhancing budget for education.
He was appreciative of the British assistance in the development of the economy and said the UK was one of the biggest foreign investors in Pakistan and co-operation in various sectors of economy was progressing well.
He was accompanied by the Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, ISI DG Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.