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Pakistan: British minister warns against foreign incursions
(AKI/DAWN) - Britain's Justice Secretary Jack Straw has stressed the need for respecting Pakistan's territorial sovereignty and said that foreign incursions would be counter-productive. After a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in Islamabad on Tuesday, Straw also said Pakistan had made many sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He expressed the hope that Pakistan would continue to allow NATO supply convoys through its territory on their way to Afghanistan. Straw spoke about territorial sovereignty after several controversial incursions by US forces in recent weeks and the news that US President George W. Bush personally endorsed the attacks from Afghanistan. Gillani called for an immediate end to violation of Pakistan's territory by the US and NATO forces and vowed that the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be protected at all costs. He said Pakistani armed forces were capable of handling any eventuality. Reiterating his government's resolve to combat terrorism, Gillani urged the international community to remove the root causes of terrorism -- socio-economic disparity and unresolved political disputes. Reiterating his government's multi-pronged strategy, he criticised the previous government's policies. The prime minister expressed Pakistan's desire to maintain friendly relations with all its neighbours and said that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan was in the country's interest. The prime minister briefed Straw on the issue of reinstatement of the deposed judges and vowed to work towards an independent judiciary. In a meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Straw acknowledged Pakistan's contributions in efforts to promote stability in Afghanistan and peace in the region. He also praised Pakistan's support for Afghan refugees. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations, discussed the situation in Afghanistan and counter-terrorism strategy. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-18 |
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