Pakistan not acting as mercenary in war on terror: Gilani
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Dec 5, IRNA -- Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan is fighting war against terror in its own interest and strongly rejects the notion being carried out on any other country's behest.
"We are not mercenaries or service providers either, and nobody has to judge our performance," the prime minister said in an interview with BBC in London before concluding his four- day official visit to the United Kingdom and Germany .
"One thing I tell you, this is our own war and we are fighting it for the interest of our own country," he added.
On US President Barack Obama's new Afghanistan war strategy, he said he wanted "more clarity" from Americans in this regard before his country could take action on it.
Gilani appreciated Obama's concern over the security and prosperity of Pakistan, however said his government was studying the US plan to send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan and also examining its implications on Pakistan .
"We would likely to see what precisely would be [the policy's] impact on Pakistan," he said. He added that Pakistan had very close cooperation on defence and intelligence side with the United States, and hoped that "it would be taken care of."
The premier said he had apprehensions that the surge of 30,000 troops in Afghanistan's Helmand province would result in militants' influx to Balochistan province.
"But one thing is clear, we cannot afford losing, because it is our own war and a stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan," he stressed.
Gilani said his government was following the exit policy in Pakistan as he believed that military actions were not solution to the problems.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 825513
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