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Qureshi terms incursions unproductive

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Sept 19, IRNA

Pakistan-Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday terming the US incursions into Pakistan `unproductive' warned that these could destablise the situation.

Addressing a press conference here at the Foreign Office, a day after talks between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and the US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Michael Mullen, Qureshi stressed that the nations should respect the sovereignty of each other.

He said Pakistan too has a responsibility to ensure that there was no incident from the Pakistan side that violates the territory of others or impacts their sovereignty.

The foreign minister called for a long term strategy to address the situation and said the `internal realities and compulsions' have to be kept in view.

He was critical of those political elements that were voicing opposition to the government and said it was criticism just for the sake of criticism.

"We do need to increase the number of friends for Pakistan and not create more enemies," Qureshi said.

"We have to protect our interests and protect our sovereignty and understand the given situation." He said it was agreed between the two countries that US would not violate Pakistan integrity.

He said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani during his meeting with Admiral Michael Mullen expressed Pakistan's point of view in clear terms and conveyed the aspirations of the people of Pakistan to him.

Qureshi said Pakistan also conveyed to Admiral Mullen that there are principles to be observed at the international level and sovereignty of every country should be respected at all costs.

He said in the present circumstances, there was a need to understand each other's point of view.

Qureshi said Pakistan was not intimated in advance about the attack by the American forces.

Referring to the statement of Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the minister said his statement reflects Pakistan true perspective.

He said it was established rule in the war against terror that if any action were required inside Pakistan it will be taken by the Pakistan's forces while action inside Afghanistan will be conducted by the international forces.