Islamabad: Pakistan is ready to discuss all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, with India as war is not the solution to any problem, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said.
It is necessary to resolve all issues between India and
Pakistan so that the countries could give attention to the
problems of the people, he said in an interview to a TV news
channel.
Replying to a question about Pakistan`s relations with
India, he said Islamabad has always maintained that the ties
"should be on the basis of equality".
Resolving outstanding issues would allow the two
countries to focus on the problems of the 1.5 billion people
of the subcontinent, including unemployment, price rise and
the lack of infrastructure and the basic needs of life, he
said.
Gilani said Pakistan is ready to discuss all outstanding
issues, including Kashmir, with India and asserted that war is
not the solution to any problem.
In response to another question, Gilani said US drone
attacks in Pakistan`s tribal area are counter-productive for
the war against terror.
"We are trying to convince the US through diplomatic and
military channels that these attacks are counter-productive
and they will be convinced," he added.
Pakistan wants the US to share actionable information
about militants and to transfer drone technology as the
country`s army is fully capable of taking on the rebels,
Gilani said.
Terrorism is one of the problems which Pakistan is
facing and when militants violated an agreement with the
government, action was taken against them, he said while
replying to another query.
Asked if his government would be able to complete its
term as it was facing several major problems like an energy
crisis, Gilani said politics is a day-to-day affair and even a
week is too long in this field.
"I am not thinking whether I will win the next election.
I am thinking (about) how to stabilise the country," he said.
Some difficult decisions have to be taken to ensure
stability and put the country on the right track, Gilani said.
Bureau Report
