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LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said no reconciliation effort in Afghanistan will be acceptable unless it takes into account Pakistan’s interests and concerns (about its own stability).
“We want a sovereign, stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan because it is in the interest of Pakistan. But we will not accept any reconciliation effort (for the settlement of problems in Afghanistan) in which Pakistan is not a party (to the solution),” he told reporters at his residence here on Friday.
“Pakistan wants that efforts for reconciliation (in Afghanistan) should be led and owned by the Afghans themselves, and should take Pakistan on board. It is important for us to watch our interests,” Mr Gilani replied to a questioner who wanted to know his reaction on the outcome of the Istanbul summit on Afghanistan held earlier this week.
He said Pakistan had suffered a great deal (in the post-Soviet era) and any reconciliation effort (in future) which did not take its concerns and interests into account would have seeds to destabilise it. He said the entire nation was united on this issue.
Mr Gilani rejected a perception that the decision to purchase 500MW electricity from India meant Pakistan did not want to use the Iranian option. “We will buy electricity from every source. We want to import both gas and electricity from Iran and have already finalised agreements for that purpose.”
He said it was the duty of the government to end the energy shortages and “we are tackling the problem very responsibly”.—Staff Reporter
