Expressing concerns, Pakistan on Saturday apprised the visiting US CIA Director that drone attacks in Pakistan territory remained counterproductive, and their continuation would badly affect the ongoing war on terror.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed concerns to the visiting CIA Director, Leon Pennetta, who held separate meetings with the two leaders here. The meetings were also attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Advisor Rehmand Malik, US Ambassdor Anne Peterson and other concerned officials.
The President and the Prime Minister told the US official about the growing concerns in the people, as well as in the government, over recent media reports of possible drone attacks in Balochistan. The CIA Director called on Prime Minister Gilani where matters pertaining to mutual interests and whole gambit of Pakistan-US multi-faceted co-operation came under discussion.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan wants peaceful relations with all its neighbours, particularly with India and Afghanistan, and is committed to play its due role in war against terror. But drone attacks were creating problems. Gilani said that Pakistan has offered co-operation to India to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai incident to justice.
He also underscored the importance of early resolution of the core issue of Kashmir to enable Pakistan to singularly focus its attention on eradicating the menace of terrorism. Pennetta expressed satisfaction over the existing co-operation between Pakistan and US in various fields, and commended the role of Pakistans armed forces and institutions as the bulwark in the war against terrorism.
He assured the Prime Minister that the US administration would expedite the passage of Kerry Lugar and other legislations from the ongress to provide Pakistan with required economic assistance and equipment and training facilities for its law enforcement agencies to help it implement its three prompt strategy in its campaign against terrorism. Later, he called on President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed matters pertaining to security situation in the region after last years Mumbai terror attacks.