Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to eradicate the scourge of extremism and terrorism, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday called upon US to deliver on its promised assistance for building the capacity of Pakistan's paramilitary forces.
The Prime Minister was talking to US Senator and Vice President Elect Joseph Biden and Senator Lindsey Graham during a meeting here. Military action is not the permanent solution to counter terrorism, Gilani said, adding that Pakistan urgently needed the required equipment and training to prepare its paramilitary forces to deal with this challenge.
At the same time, he said, the new US administration should fast track the passage of Biden Luger Bill and take measures to introduce the long awaited ROZs Bill in the US Congress. Gilani briefed the US Senators on Pakistan's efforts to counter terrorism and its relations with Afghanistan. He emphasised that the US must trust and respect Pakistan's sincerity, as an ally cannot be an adversary at the same time.
He also took up with US Senators matters relating to provision of defence equipment to Pakistan's armed forces and enhanced intelligence exchanges between the two sides. He stated that such co-operation would enable Pak armed forces to take action against militant hideouts and the major issue of drone attacks by US/Nato forces inside Pakistan territory should be stopped.
The US vice president-elect assured the Prime Minister of his government's full economic support, bilaterally and through IFIs. He also promised to work for the provision of equipment and training to build the capacity of Pak paramilitary forces.
He reassured the Prime Minister that the new US government would like to have a constructive relationship with democratic government of Pakistan. He said it was not a zero sum game as the US considered Pakistan's success against terrorism as its own victory.
The incoming government in Washington would like to start with the "present rather than past" in its relations with Pakistan. Though, he said there would be continuity in new government's policies but it would not be about the past. The Obama administration fully realised that Pakistan alone could not fight this war and hence would support it in every possible way to succeed.
Biden termed a stable Afghanistan as imperative for peace and economic prosperity of the whole region and stated that Pakistan's role towards that end would be of paramount importance.
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