Defence minister Khwaja Mohammad Asif has made it clear that Pakistan is fighting the war against terrorists for the sake of entire world. Speaking at Aaj News talk show Rubaroo hosted by Shaukat Piracha on Saturday, Khwaja Asif further said that any sanctions on Pakistan would certainly harm the interests of the US. He said that Pakistan is a frontline state in the war against terrorism and US policy on F-16 deal adversely affected counterterrorism operations. He made it clear that new leadership of the US had to meet the defence needs of Pakistan.
Senator Rehman Malik of Pakistan People's Party urged the government to lodge a protest with the US for according India the status of defence partner. Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that it is in the interest of Pakistan to have good relations with the US but there must be no compromise on national interest in this regard. Spokesman for the Foreign Office Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan-US relations are based on institutions and not on the basis of persons.