QUETTA, June 6: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said here on Monday that Pakistan had extremely cordial relations with China, but there was no agreement with it about handing over the Gwadar port. He said it was a provincial matter and the Balochistan government had signed an agreement with a Singapore company to run the port.

Speaking at a press conference at the Quetta airport before leaving for Islamabad after a two-day visit to Balochistan, the prime minister urged the United States to provide drone technology to Pakistan to enable it to effectively target militant hideouts and play a decisive role in the global war on terror.

“Terrorism is a global issue and Pakistan is playing an important role in the war of terror. We are fighting a guerilla war against terrorists and it will a take long time to eliminate the menace of terrorism. Extremists will not be allowed to use our land for terrorism.”

He said that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had been told during her recent visit to Islamabad that the government was under immense public pressure on the drone attack issue and it would be better it the US transferred the drone technology to Pakistan.

Mr Gilani said he had asked Ms Clinton that the US should respect the resolution adopted by a joint session of the two houses of parliament against the drone attacks.

He said the country's foreign policy safeguarded national interests. “Our policy has been formulated keeping in view the interests of all our neighbours, including Afghanistan, Iran and India.”

He reiterated his government's resolve to remove the sense of deprivation of Baloch people by giving them rights and bringing them into the national mainstream. The prime minister said the government was ready for dialogue with the estranged leaders of Balochistan in the larger national interest.

He said that under the Balochistan package, the Frontier Constabulary was replacing the army in various areas of Balochistan.

About the missing persons in Balochistan, the prime minister said two commissions had been set up to look into the matter.

He said his government believed in the freedom of press and independence of judiciary. “Our government has not detained any political worker or journalist. The judiciary and the media are independent.”

He said the government was sincerely implementing the Balochistan package to provide 20,000 jobs to Baloch youths.

Mr Gilani said he would ask the Wapda chairman to reduce the duration of loadshedding.