Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani held separate meetings with Polish and Italian counterparts at the sidelines of ASEM Summit and discussed matters pertaining to expansion of bilateral co-operation. The Prime Minister told Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk that Poland is one of the major contributors to the Nato forces in Afghanistan and is likely to increase its present 1600 strong army contingent in Afghanistan by another 1000 army personnel.
The Prime Minister recalling his conversation over the phone with Prime Minister Tusk earlier this month reassured his Polish counterpart that Pakistan's security apparatus was undertaking every humanly possible effort for the safe and expeditious release of Polish surveyor kidnapped from Attock district, late September.
The Prime Minister briefed him in detail about Pakistan's war on terror, human and economic costs that Pakistan was paying for this undertaking, involvement of drug money for financing the militancy, the new development in which the tribals had taken up the fight against the militants and the root causes of militancy.
Talking to the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Primer Gilani said that Italy, one of the leading industrialised country in the EU, is to assume the leadership of G-8 countries in 2009 and is keen to pursue its 2006 initiative for a wholesome engagement with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Prime Minister briefed his Italian counterpart on Pakistan's war on terror and its implications on Pakistan's economy and Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan. The two leaders also discussed the whole gambit of bilateral relations.
The Italian Prime Minister informed his Pakistani counterpart that after assuming G-8 leadership he would like the G-8 forum to refocus its attention on Pakistan and Afghanistan and intends to visit Pakistan next year in this regard. He acknowledged Pakistan's contributions and human as well as economic sacrifices as the frontline state against terrorism and assured the Prime Minister of Italy's active participation in the Friends of Pakistan Forum to mitigate its economic difficulties.
He stated that a stable Pakistan was vital for winning the war against terrorism and extremism and termed the destabilisation of Pakistan as the destabilisation of the region rather the world at large. Prime Minister Berlusconi pledged to increase Italian investment in Pakistan and informed the Prime Minister that he intends sending an investment delegation to Pakistan in the near future.
He said that Italy, which in its northern part has one of the largest and most prosperous SMEs of Europe, would offer every possible help for strengthening the SME sector in Pakistan. The Italian Prime Minister also offered to; provide Fiat tractors to Pakistan to help its agricultural sector and said that the possibility of Fiat investment in Pakistan could also be considered.
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