Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday said he hoped that the international community would give the country greater recognition and support for its contributions to the war against terrorism.
Ashraf made these remarks in an exclusive interview with China’s prominent English daily, Global Times, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Tianjin.
Ashraf said terrorism was a threat to regional and global peace and security, stressing that it was the collective responsibility of all nations to fight against it.
“Pakistan is on the frontline of the war on terrorism, facing the main brunt and being the main sufferer. We paid a heavy price in the war and the international community should recognize our sacrifices and support us,” he said. Ashraf said Islamabad was also eyeing closer anti-terrorism cooperation with China. “The China-Pakistan relationship is always a diplomatic priority for Pakistan. Our friendship is time-tested and is based upon our two people’s love and affection for each other,” the prime minister said. He said his country’s recent decision to reopen the NATO supply route through Pakistan and into Afghanistan was the latest sign of its willingness to facilitate regional anti-terrorism efforts.
“The US accepted that the strike was a mistake and felt sorry for it. We reopened the line without any other conditions because we know this is for the interest of peace and stability of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the whole region,” he said. Ashraf added that when NATO forces pull their troops out of Afghanistan by 2014, they would use the same route. “We do not want to be seen as a hindrance. We want to be seen as being on the right side of history, cooperating with the international community, “he said. He said regional peace and stability after NATO’s withdrawal mainly depended on the process being led by Afghans. “I went to Afghanistan last month and met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, as well as different parties and their leaders. I have come to the conclusion that Afghanistan’s internal dialogue is the only path for peace and stability,” he said. “Pakistan wants to be a facilitator in this process because we understand that peace and stability in Afghanistan means peace and stability in Pakistan,” the prime minister added.
