Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has warned the United States that his country can no longer continue the ‘war on terror’ alone and that the “era of do more” has gone.
In his monthly address to the nation on national radio, Gilani said Pakistan has clarified to America that it needs active assistance from the international community to carry on the fight against terrorism.
“We have made it clear to Washington that the era of ‘do more’ has gone now and that we want trade not aid,” The News quoted Gilani, as saying.
“Pakistan is urging the US to ensure that the commitments made from the forum of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) are fulfilled,” he added.
Commenting on the Afghan issue, Gilani said Islamabad respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and it would continue to support the reconciliation and reconstruction efforts being put in place in the war torn country.
Hinting towards India’s alleged role in fanning insurgency in Balochistan using Afghan soil, he said : “We want that the Afghan soil is not used against Pakistan and the international community fulfils its responsibility with regard to repatriation of three million Afghan refugees.”
Gilani also condemned Thursday’s terrorist attack at the Hazrat Data Gunj Bukhsh shrine in Lahore, saying the perpetrators have desecrated the resting place of a great saint along with killing scores of innocent people.
He vowed to continue working towards transforming Pakistan into a ‘modern, welfare Islamic state’ with the cooperation of the public.
