Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that United States President George W. Bush's visit had contributed to further strengthening of relations between the two countries.
"The visit was successful," he told a group of Pakistani journalists. The minister said that identity of views and co-operation marked Islamabad-Washington ties. "You will see some results soon," he added.
On a question about Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said, "Pakistan will be guided solely by its own national interest in this matter."
About a recent newspaper article by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in which she described India as a "natural ally" of the US, the minister said it had long been Washington's desire to keep India on its side. But US's close relations with India had not affected its ties to Pakistan. In fact, Washington's close relations with New Delhi and Islamabad would be helpful in resolving the Kashmir dispute.
Sheikh Rashid underscored the need to finding a solution to the Kashmir dispute acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. Unless Kashmir issue was resolved, the confidence building measures between the two countries would become meaningless.
Replying to a question about Iranian nuclear crisis, Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan was opposed to the use of force against Iran.
To a question about Pakistan's energy needs, Rashid said that Pakistan needed more energy resources in the future. "We have number of options available in this regard," he said. Pakistan could get nuclear reactors from China, with which "our friendship is time-tested - higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the high seas."
In this connection, he referred to President Pervez Musharraf's visit to China days ahead of the President Bush's trip to India and Pakistan.
Asked whether General Musharraf would be elected by the assemblies, he said that assembles would elect him as President for a five-year term. He said that except MMA leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed, all opposition parties were in contact with the government.
Sheikh Rashid said that PTV would soon start telecasting its programmes to the viewers in the US and Canada through dish network to keep them updated on the latest developments in Pakistan.