ISLAMABAD, 27 March 2008 — Pakistan supports the US-led campaign against terrorism but a comprehensive approach that includes political solutions is needed to tackle the problem, Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told US President George W. Bush.
Bush called Gilani on Tuesday, hours after President Pervez Musharraf swore him in and as US envoys sounded out Pakistan’s new civilian leaders on militancy.
“Pakistan would continue to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations since it is in Pakistan’s own national interest,” Gilani told Bush, according to a government statement issued yesterday.
Gilani also met visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte yesterday and discussed war on terror and bilateral relations.
Analysts say the United States wants to ensure the new coalition government maintains Musharraf’s commitment to tackling militants.
Some coalition leaders have spoken of the need to hold talks with militants and that has raised questions about Pakistan’s security strategy, especially with Musharraf’s power ebbing.
“However, Gilani said that a comprehensive approach is required in this regard, specially combining a political approach with development programs,” the government said.
Gilani is a senior official of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party, which won the most seats in last month’s elections.
He is forming a coalition government with the party of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, whose party came second, and at least other two smaller parties.
Gilani told Bush during the phone conversation Pakistan was committed to maintaining long-term close ties with the US.
Bush assured Gilani the United States would continue its support for Pakistan and praised its role in fighting terrorism, which he said was a threat to both countries, it said. The White House said on Tuesday Bush and Gilani had agreed to maintain their alliance against militants.
The United States had previously criticized peace pacts Islamabad struck with Pakistani militants aimed at isolating their foreign Al-Qaeda allies.
Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday hours before Gilani was sworn in. They met on Tuesday Musharraf and main leaders of the new coalition, including Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto’s widower and her political successor, and Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf overthrew in 1999.
Sharif told the US officials that security would no longer be Musharraf’s unpopular “one-man show.” The new Parliament would review Musharraf’s policy of curbing militancy and make recommendations, he said.
Pakistan’s Foreign office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq also said yesterday the Parliament had every right to review the country’s foreign policy.
Negroponte visited an ethnic Pashtun tribal region in violence-plagued northwest Pakistan yesterday, Pakistani state television said.
Parliament Will Decide
My Case: Chaudhry
Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said the Parliament would decide on his reinstatement. Speaking to Arab News Chaudhry said he was still the chief justice and the Parliament was the right forum to decide his case. He avoided discussing judicial and constitutional matters saying those issues need to be discussed in Parliament or courts.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Atizaz Ahsan, speaking to newsmen outside Chaudhry’s residence, said lawyers did not want confrontation with the Parliament but would launch a movement if judges were not restored. He said the lawyers had the option of launching a long march for the reinstatement of judges.
— With input from agencies
