Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan would like to improve its relations with the United States and rebuild the anti-terror alliance.
In an interview with China Daily, taken during his recent visit to China and published on Thursday, the prime minister reiterated his desire to rebuild an anti-terror alliance with the United States, but added that he would let the parliament decide on this issue.
“We know the importance of the United States and we want to work with the United States, but on a (basis of) mutual respect and mutual interests,” said Gilani. Referring to the discussion on foreign policy in the parliament, Gilani said, “I am certain the parliament will bring about new rules of engagement with the United States as well as with NATO.”
Referring to the Salala check post incident, the prime minister said that such unilateral action had stirred resentment among the Pakistani people. “Our concerns of sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected,” he said. Last year on November 26, NATO aircraft bombed two Pakistani border posts at Salala and killed 24 soldiers. Pakistani angrily closed supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan, and called for a parliamentary review of its relations with the US.
“We had good relations with the United States in the last 60 years,” Gilani said, while noting that there have been a lot of ups and downs due to various kinds of issues.
He said that he told President Barack Obama during his meeting in South Korea that the US drone strikes targeting al Qaeda and Taliban militants were counterproductive. “We left parliament to apply its collective wisdom to decide,” he said.
Regarding the restoration of NATO supplies, Gilani said the decision would be made only after evolving consensus among political parties.
