PERTH, Oct 29: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani categorically said on Saturday that no permission had been granted to the United States to launch drone attacks on targets inside Pakistan.

“There is no such permission,” he told a large group of Pakistani expatriates.

Mr Gilani, who is in Australia on a four-day visit to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, said drone attacks were counter-productive because they caused collateral damage and undermined the government’s efforts to garner support against extremists and terrorists.

He said the drone attacks were one of the reasons why relations between Pakistan and the US had deteriorated in recent months.

He said Pakistan had also conveyed to the US that unilateral military operation like that of May 2 to get Osama bin Laden would not be acceptable.

Mr Gilani said there had been a tremendous change in the country’s foreign and security policies as a result of “the vindication of his vision of three Ds — dialogue, development and deterrence”. “There has been a paradigm shift in the policy of a democratic government and that of a dictatorial regime,” he said, adding that now the people of Pakistan and parliament were the ultimate stakeholders who could take decisions of national importance.

“Unlike the policies of the past when things started rolling with a single telephone call from the United States, now we seek mandate of the parliament and take decisions with consensus.”

The rime minister said it was for the first time that the army chief and the ISI director general had briefed parliament on the security situation.

He said the Swat operation had been carried out after the reluctance of Taliban leaders to honour their commitment of not indulging in any unlawful activity. “Their defiance led me to take army operation against the militants and the people wholeheartedly supported the government.”

He criticised opposition leaders and said they were trying to take political mileage by blowing up everything out of proportion and confusing the masses. “But they will not succeed because people know their politicking against democracy and indeed against the country. If anyone has some problem he should either go to courts or take political trajectory and contest the next election on the basis of issues, not merely sloganeering.”—APP

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...