LAHORE, Sept 29: Pakistan People's Party representatives say the All-Party Conference (APC) has given a strong message to the world, especially the US.

“Though all political parties have different viewpoints on Pakistan's foreign policy towards the US, they are on the same page as far as country's defence is concerned. Today we have given a strong message to the US,” says senior PPP leader Navid Chaudhry.

He said political forces representing the people of Pakistan made it clear to the US that they would not adopt 'yes boss' attitude. “US leaders have adopted a soft stance after the APC,” he said and added that those hoping that the conference would turn out to be a futile exercise were disappointed.

He said the world must not forget that Pakistan had given sacrifices in the war on terror more than any other country and the US should come out of state of denial now.

Chaudhry, who is President Zardari's coordinator for Punjab, said: “Pakistan is a peace loving country and wants relations with every country.

However, if war is imposed on Pakistan it will turn out to be the third world war and militants will be the beneficiaries of this clash.”

He said the Pak-US tension should be seen in the US decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan. “The US wants Indian hegemony in the region, but this is not acceptable to us. Besides, America is not happy with Pakistan's growing relations with China, Iran and Russia,” Chaudhry said, adding the US should stop discriminating between India and Pakistan.

PPP Punjab deputy secretary general Usman Salim Malik praised Prime Minister Gilani's effort to bring all political forces under one umbrella on the issue of national solidarity. He said there should be no point scoring over the issue.

PPP's Asif Hashmi said the APC communicated people's sentiments to the US.

APML: The All Pakistan Muslim League said the APC proved to be a “congregation of failed politicians”.

APML spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said the incumbent political leadership of the country was not capable of formulating a strategy on nation security.

“The PPP-led coalition government gave nothing to the masses during the last three years except corruption, inflation and unemployment and the ruling alliance has neither vision nor strategy to steer the country out of crises.”

He said the government had been befooling the masses in the name of joint sessions and APC, as the history saw that these forums proved only futile exercises.