Davos: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
on Saturday refused to be drawn out on the issue of another
Mumbai-like attack originating from Pakistani soil but said
India should share any information it has on terrorist
activities so that they can be countered by his government.
Gilani described his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh as
a "genuine person" who is desirous of resolving all issues
with Pakistan, including the "core issue of Kashmir".
When Gilani was asked by an Indian journalist about the
possibility of another Mumbai-style attack during an
interaction with the media on the sidelines of the World
Economic Forum at Davos, he replied: "Ifs and when do not make
a story."
"We see Pakistan as a factor of peace, stability and
development in the region," Gilani said.
Pakistan desires good relations with all its neighbours
and if New Delhi has any information about terrorist
activities, it can be shared with Islamabad, he said.
The Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba was blamed for the
November 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people.
Pakistani authorities arrested seven suspects, including
LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, on charges of involvement
in the attacks but their trial has stalled for over a year due
to technical reasons.
Noting that Pakistan had resumed its dialogue with India,
Gilani mentioned his visit to Mohali last year to watch the
Cricket World Cup semi-final at the invitation of Singh.
"We are in the process of normalising trade relations
with India, which will benefit the people of both countries,"
he said.
Gilani further said that Pakistan attaches importance to
its relations with Afghanistan and a peaceful and stable
Afghanistan was in the strategic interest of Pakistan.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 28, 2012, 21:06