Pakistan has its own priorities: Shah Mehmood Qureshi.—AFP photo

LAHORE: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said here on Sunday that the recent round of strategic dialogue had been productive and the United States had accepted Pakistan’s point of view on various issues which was a major development. “Unlike in the past, we are also making the Obama administration accept our position on various issues. We are talking on an equal footing and have gained a lot of things, including a $7.5 billion economic package (approved by the US Congress last year) and (the new offer of) $2 billion military aid,” he said at a news conference after his arrival from the US. Discussions were also held on a demand for a military action in North Waziristan, Mr Qureshi said.

“We told them that Pakistani agencies have conducted several operations in the tribal belt and they need some consolidation before entering North Waziristan. They were told that we have already deployed 34,000 personnel there and we have to move in while keeping in mind our resources and priorities,” he said.

“We have our own priorities and sense of timing. We will proceed while keeping in mind our defence requirements for both the eastern and western borders and the need to engage troops for helping the flood-affected people. We have told America to enhance our capabilities to combat terrorism,” he said.

The dialogue covered 13 sectors, including security, economy, energy, health and agriculture.

The foreign minister said the US had indicated that it would help build the Gomal and Satpara dams and consider assistance for Bhasha dam.

Mr Qureshi said that the next round of the dialogue would be held in Islamabad next year.

President Barack Obama promised to visit Islamabad next year and President Asif Ali Zardari would go to Washington before that, he said.

During talks with President Obama, the Pakistani delegation insisted on transfer of civil nuclear technology. The US president was informed that Pakistan had been successfully producing nuclear energy for 35 years and it needed the technology to generate the much-needed low-cost power.

“We told him that Pakistan should also be allowed the facility which has already been given to India. Let there be no discrimination,” he said.

He said the third round of dialogue in eight months had negated an impression that the Pakistan-US relations were on the downhill.

“For the first time in the history of the country, we are trying to make the dialogue with America meaningful, giving it depth and improving the quality of interaction,” he said.

He said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led the US side whereas in the past this had been done by the deputy secretary of state.

“We discussed issues which were never taken up during the past two years despite the completion of paper work,” he said.

The foreign minister said the discussions had focussed on how both the countries could help each other in different sectors. “We accepted their points and made them accept our points.”

He said the five-year $7.5 billion economic package would be in the shape of grant.

He said the US had now offered a five-year $2 billion security assistance programme after his delegation made it realise that Pakistan needed equipment and enhanced capability to counter terrorism.

He said he had told his counterparts to stop saying that Pakistan was not serious in the war against terror. “One should not expect a friend to always accept one’s viewpoint. Let the other party also state its case,” he said.

He said Ms Clinton had agreed that relations should not be judged from press reports. She acknowledged that Pakistan was the most important US ally in the fight against terror.

The foreign minister said Ms Clinton was told that water was important for Pakistan’s survival, its shortage had affected relations among the federating units and with India and the US would have to make investment in the sector for which Pakistan had many projects in mind.

Discussions were held on 27 projects related to science, agricultural productivity, health facilities and public diplomacy.

He said the US had prepared a training programme for 200 Pakistani journalists.

Replying to a question, he said Pakistan’s concerns over drone attacks were also conveyed to the US.

Both America and Pakistan, he said, wanted a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. America wanted stability and peace that could allow its exit and Pakistan wanted cordial relations with a stable Afghanistan.

He said relations with Afghanistan had improved over the past two years.

“We have signed a transit trade agreement with Afghanistan and are expanding political relations with its various levels of leadership. In the past we were confining ourselves only to develop relations with the Afghan Pakhtuns.

Now we are looking beyond territories.”

He said he had asked the US to play its role in resolving the Kashmir issue as it and the United Nations had mediated between Pakistan and India in their recent water dispute.

“America says it will intervene when a request is made by both India and Pakistan. But I feel that it is in a position to use its influence to ensure peace and stability in the region,” he said.Mr Qureshi said the US Central Intelligence Agency was sharing information with Inter-Services Intelligence agency because both countries were jointly fighting terrorism. “Their coordination benefits both the countries.”

He said the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline was not discussed.

Replying to a question, he said there was no threat to democracy. The present American establishment had an ideological bias towards democracy and it wanted a democratic government in Pakistan. “The 18th Amendment is also a major advancement in strengthening democratic rule.”

The foreign minister said Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif had travelled with him from London to Pakistan and they had shared the outcome of the dialogue. “He was positive.”The minister said the release of Pakistani scientist Dr Aafia Siqqiqui from the US could not be secured through public meetings or statements. The government had provided her diplomatic, financial and legal help and would strive to get her released through a legal procedure.