[Dawn] Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani... Pakistain's erstwhile current prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics can be awe-inspiring ...
said Pakistain, United States and Afghanistan need to continue working on a joint strategy in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
When the hands and the lips are in conflict, discount the lips. Especially if they fall off.
In an interview to SBS television here, the Prime Minister said, "We need cooperation and we all together have to make a strategy to fight against them (terrorists)."
He said he discussed with leaders of member states of Commonwealth the need to win hearts and minds of people.
Grab them firmly by the testicles. Their hearts and minds will follow.
"We have to do something practically for them, because we have to go to the root cause of terrorism, which is because of poverty and illiteracy and we have to fight that."
You keep saying the causes of terrorism are poverty and illiteracy. It's probably a lot more accurate to say that terrorism works because people with lots of money are willing to shell out big bucks to recruit rubes to kill themselves and others in the name of whatever crackbrain idea's being pushed at the moment, whether fascism, communism, or - as in the present instance - olde tyme religion. Since the poor will always be with us, it makes more sense to me to kill the financiers, but what the hell do I know?
He said the United States has already committed to building of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in areas of Pakistain and Afghanistan for the uplift of living standards of people.
Good idea. Have Pak politicians hand out our money to beturbanned rustics. Who thought that up? A few of us want to have a talk with him.
"But we are expecting that they do it soon. Only military actions are not the solution and once you have a military action, you should have an exit strategy with a socioeconomic programme, so that there is a permanent solution."
About Pak-US relations, he said, "there had been a lot of ups and downs but there is a realisation that they can understand our ground realities and I discussed with them that we need a political space, so that we can fight better."
"And if there is no political space left for us, then individually no one can be able to perform well, till such time when we have the support of the masses."
The Prime Minister said Pakistain has lost many people in fight against terrorism, which shows its resolve and commitment. "We have lost about 30,000 people and 5,000 brave soldiers including that of law enforcement agencies and how anybody can even doubt our intention".
He said he discussed with the Australian Prime Minister the recent attacks on Australian and US forces in Afghanistan.
"It is bad news and we really condemn this incident," he said adding, "We are fighting against terrorism and extremism and we paid such a huge price and therefore we can't afford that ISAF forces and NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
forces lose. We want them to win. Because we are directly affected by such incidents."
He said forces that are working in Afghanistan, have to leave one day but "we are the neighbours and we have to live permanently".
To a question about the statements coming from Pentagon, he said Pentagon has its assessment and many statements come from the US and "we don't want to answer each and every statement. We only deal things politically and through the Foreign Office."
The Prime Minister said he met US Secretary
Hillary Clinton... sometimes described as
The Woman to Call at 3 a.m.and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as
Another George C. Marshall...
during her visit to Pakistain. "We had a lengthy meeting and we almost agreed on all points that they wanted."
Pakistain and United States have great cooperation in defence and intelligence sharing, he added.
Gilani said the US wanted to win and Pakistain is ready to support any initiative of Afghanistan for any reconciliation.
"We are ready to support them as Pakistain is part of the solution. Therefore we are ready to help them," he remarked.