ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that former president Pervez Musharraf had allowed the United States to carry out drone flights in tribal areas for reconnaissance.

Permission had been given “much earlier for reconnaissance and surveillance flights” by drones, but “it was never given for missile attacks”, Mr Gilani said at a meeting with diplomatic correspondents in reply to a question about stepped up drone strikes.

Mr Gilani rejected the Af-Pak term coined by the US and spoke in detail about new peace talks in Afghanistan, impasse between Pakistan and India, US-India civilian nuclear deal and credibility crisis over flood aid.

About relations with India, he said he was disappointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's failure to fulfil the promise of normalising relations.

The prime minister accused Gen (retd) Musharraf of making compromises on foreign policy. It is the first time that the government has acknowledged, at the highest level, the existence of a deal with the US on predator missions even though for reconnaissance.

Leaks from Washington had earlier hinted at a secret accord on drones between Pakistan and the United States.

Chairperson of the US Senate Intelligence Committee Senator Dianne Feinstein had in February last year disclosed that drones were being flown out of a Pakistani base.

Mr Gilani denied reports that the US carried out drone operations from Shahbaz Airbase, though he said he would investigate reports about the Americans using Balochistan's Shamsi Airbase for the purpose.

About 184 drone attacks have been carried out since 2004, mostly in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, where terrorists are believed to have sanctuaries. Over two dozen strikes have been launched since September this year.

The prime minister reiterated the denunciation of the Predator-launched CIA missile strikes, saying they were counter-productive and infringement of the country's sovereignty. He even said that Pakistan was fed up with relentless predator strikes, but did not say why did he not review Gen Musharraf's authorisation to allow drone flights after coming into power and that too after knowing that the agreement was being abused by the Americans.

A reading of the red lines shared by the PPP-led government with the Obama administration last year also reveals its tacit acceptance of the drone strikes.

The red lines, in the context of drones, only say no expansion of drone attacks in Balochistan, but nothing about attacks in Fata.

TALKS WITH TALIBAN Mr Gilani said that no reconciliation process with Afghan warring factions could succeed without Pakistan being part of it.

“Any step in which Pakistan is not involved, such talks with anyone will not be successful because Pakistan is part of the solution and not a part of the problem,” he said, adding that Pakistan's interest must be safeguarded during reconciliation talks.

Officially, Pakistan has been saying it is for an Afghan-led reconciliation process, but has longed for a major role in the talks.

The Afghan government has confirmed preliminary contacts with the Taliban. Top coalition commander Gen Petraeus has admitted that Nato troops facilitated the movement of a senior Taliban commander to Afghanistan for talks with the Karzai government.

Moreover, reports suggest that special efforts are being made by the US and Afghan authorities to prevent interference of Pakistan in the nascent Afghan dialogue process.

Talking about the impasse in Pakistan-India relations, Mr Gilani referred to his meetings with his Indian counterpart in Sharm el Sheikh, Washington and Thimphu and he said “I have had some productive exchanges with my Indian counterpart. I am disappointed that the promise of those meetings has not yet been realised. Full resumption of the dialogue process has yet to happen.”

The prime minister said he believed that internal political pressures in India were preventing Mr Singh from moving forward in his quest for peace between the two neighbours.

“I think the prime minister (Singh) could not stand the pressure within parliament and India.” He said lasting peace could be achieved in the region through “sincere efforts to resolve longstanding disputes for which leadership, vision and courage are required”.

Pakistan, Mr Gilani said, was “seriously concerned” at the prevailing situation in held Kashmir and would continue to extend “its full moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their just cause”.

He said the US was in a position to play a role in facilitating talks between Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir issue.

CIVILIAN NUKE DEAL The prime minister said Pakistan had not opposed the US civilian nuclear deal with India in anticipation of getting a similar package from Washington. He said this was communicated to the US when it had approached Pakistan on the issue.

Mr Gilani said it was because of this understanding that Islamabad had regularly demanded civilian nuclear pact with Washington.

CREDIBILITY CRISIS Mr Gilani dismissed as unfounded western fears about transparency and accountability in the use of aid for floods. He said that those who did not want to give aid were finding excuses.

“We have put in all necessary mechanisms to ensure transparent use of the funds meant for flood victims.”