Visit by PM: To Strengthen Ties with US
'Pakistan Times' Diplomatic Desk

ISLAMABAD: Relations between Pakistan and the United States are in the mutual interest of both the countries. Amid this perspective the upcoming visit by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to the US would further strengthen these ties.

Speaking to state-run television, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said Friday that the visit would also help remove certain misunderstandings.

At the same time, the economic, defense and technical relations between the two countries would also gain still more impetus.

The prevailing economic conditions in the country under the impact of global rise in the prices of energy and food stuff are of course a matter of worry for the present government, he said, adding this area would come under discussion during the visit.

Overall the general trend of the relations is positive and cooperation is increasing in all the areas, he added.

The spokesman said border violations and build-up of NATO forces along the frontier is a serious matter and the government of Pakistan has already raised this issue at various forums.

The matter would be discussed with US authorities during the PM's visit, he said. It is the issue of Pakistan's sovereignty and it would be at top of the agenda, he added.

Responding to a question the spokesman said neither US nor the world community has taken serious note of the recent anti-Pakistan accusations by Afghan President Hamid Karzai over the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul.

The spokesman said that soon after the incident, allegations were leveled against Pakistan even before the nature of attack and the number of casualties known.

Answering a question, he said that there is 2500 km porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and it is almost impossible to ensure 100 percent check on cross-border movement of undesired elements.

It is the joint responsibility of Pakistan, Afghanistan and coalition partners to play their due role and it is in appropriate to expect from Pakistan to ensure fool-proof check on the movement of undesired people in isolation, he said.

There would rarely be a border in the entire world where routine crossing takes place at such a large level, he said.

The spokesman said that Pakistan has sincerely extended a number of suggestions to tighten check on cross-border movement but the other side never responded seriously.

The fact is that leadership in Afghanistan is in the habit of issuing statements and they never talked about practical steps to overcome the problem, he said. ●