Pakistan wanted a relationship with the US based on mutual respect and mutual interest Prime Minister Gilani

Islamabad:  April 27, 2012
 The US delegation led by Ambassador Marc Grossman, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani at the PM’s House today. Both sides discussed the whole gamut of bilateral relations including cooperation in the war on terror in accordance with the resolution of the Parliament which spells out the new terms of engagement between Pakistan and the US.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with the United States.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need of building partnership between Pakistan and the United States to achieve shared objective of bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan which in turn, would strengthen peace and stability in the region.

The Prime Minister said the Pakistani has the commitment and resolve to confront the forces of terrorism and extremism with the support of the public. The Prime Minister sensitized the US delegation about enhancing national capacity to meet this challenge.

The Prime Minister referred to his meeting with the US President on the sidelines of Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul who had agreed with him on the criticality of streamlining the relations between the two countries to achieve the common goals.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan wanted a relationship with the US based on mutual respect and mutual interest.

Mr Marc Grossman agreed with the Prime Minister that it was of fundamental importance to build a partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interests including respect for territorial integrity  of both the countries.

He agreed with the Prime Minister that partnership with Pakistan was critically important to establish peace and security in the region.

He further said that there was a dire need to improve perception about each other through public diplomacy.  He said that the US greatly valued democratic Pakistan led by elected leadership.

US Ambassador in Pakistan Mr Cameron Munter and US Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Security Affairs Dr Peter Lavoy assisted Marc Grossman in talks.

The Pakistani side consisted of Minister for Defence Ch Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Interior Senator A Rehman Malik, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan Ambassador in USA Ms Sherry Rehman, Senator Syeda Sughra Hussain Imam, Secretary Defence, Secretary Foreign Affairs and other senior officers.
______________