Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. —AFP Photo

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the government is ready to talk to anyone in troubled areas provided he is willing to “decommission” himself. He said he was avoiding to use the word ‘surrender’ because it was against tribal culture and traditions.

Talking to a group of reporters here on Sunday, the prime minister said: “We are ready to hold talks with everybody who is willing to decommission oneself.”

He rejected Afghan allegations of Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani and stressed that only unity against the common enemy (terrorists) could ensure victory for both countries.

When asked how would the government satisfy the opposition and implement the decisions of the All Party Conference, he said a committee formed by the APC would give recommendations while a parliamentary body would oversee the enforcement.

He said the government had successfully used the three-D policy — dialogue, development and deterrence — in Swat and would continue to implement the same policy. He said the US also was reconciling itself with the Taliban in Afghanistan and, therefore, it could not lecture others to continue the use of force. “We’ll do whatever is in our national interest.”

The prime minister denied that the government had reached any agreement with the US about drone attacks or ground operations. Had it been the case, the WikiLeaks would have exposed it by now, he added.

He told a questioner that bringing together all voices, civil and military and within and outside parliament, was a gigantic task and the consensus at the APC had sent a loud and clear message to all that “we all are united in the larger national interest and that the military establishment is under the civilian control”.

Replying to a question about the APC boycott by some Baloch nationalist leaders, he said those who did not attend did not differ on the issue for which the APC had been convened and their boycott was actually in view of “ground realities”.

He would not elaborate “ground realities”, but it implied complaints of Baloch nationalists about the army operation and the issue of missing people in Balochistan.

About creation of Seraiki province, Mr Gilani said the issue had been referred to the manifesto committee of the PPP and the issue would be considered in accordance with provisions of the Constitution.

Opinion

Accessing the RSF

Accessing the RSF

RSF can help catalyse private sector inves­tment encouraging investment flows, build upon institutional partnerships with MDBs, other financial institutions.

Editorial

Madressah oversight
Updated 19 Dec, 2024

Madressah oversight

Bill should be reconsidered and Directorate General of Religious Education, formed to oversee seminaries, should not be rolled back.
Kurram’s misery
Updated 19 Dec, 2024

Kurram’s misery

The state must recognise that allowing such hardship to continue undermines its basic duty to protect citizens’ well-being.
Hiking gas rates
19 Dec, 2024

Hiking gas rates

IMPLEMENTATION of a new Ogra recommendation to increase the gas prices by an average 8.7pc or Rs142.45 per mmBtu in...
Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...