Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that keeping in view the long standing relations with the United States, Pakistan’s sovereignty should not have been violated.Reacting to a military operation conducted deep inside the Pakistan territory by a US team of Navy Seals, he said the issue of violation of sovereignty was a matter of concern for Pakistan. He said it was particularly so,in view of the cooperation with the United States of America, in intelligence and defence. “There was no need to a shortcut, or to bypass Pakistan”, Gilani told the team of reporters accompanying him on his three-day visit to France.
The Prime Minister who seemed confident and strong despite the very bumpy flight that had to turn back had an informal chat with the media persons and said, “we are returning because of the technical problem.”
He said the US President had acknowledged Pakistan’s contribution against the war on terror and the on going intelligence sharing between the two countries. He said relations with the United States had seen many ups and downs in the past. He mentioned the incident of Raymond Davis and the Osama’s killing and said it would take some time for the relations to fully normalize between the two countries.
Gilani said during his visit he had an opportunity to present Pakistan’s things. “There were many misunderstandings and I hope these have been removed.”
He said he told the French President and the Prime Minister about Pakistan’s contribution in the war against terror and the arrest of 248 high value targets besides the sacrifices the country has rendered in this regard. Gilani mentioned that targets like Libbi, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad have been arrested by Pakistani law enforcement agencies.
To a question Gilani said he was not returning home due to the situation back home in the backdrop of the killings of Osama bin Laden in Abbotabad. “My official engagements had ended tonight and I decided to return home, Gilani said and dismissed the suggestion that he had to cut short his visit.
Asked about the difference of opinion from various government quarters regarding the US military operation, he said he would give a policy statement during the winding up debate in the Senate, otherwise the Minister of Information would do so. The Prime Minister when questioned about the recent alliance of PPP with the PML-Q, he said the alliance with the PML-Q was not against the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and his party.
“We will not destabilize the provincial government of Punjab and would let complete their term,” Gilani said when asked about the latest alliance the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party government has created.
The prime minister had started an interaction with his media team in the aircraft when it developed problem with the auto pilot system. However soon after the taking over of the manual controls by the pilots the prime minister resumed his interaction with the journalists. The prime minister remained confident and strong despite the heavy jolts of the aircraft – APP
