Pakistan: Amid criticism, Gilani was optimistic that the world would acknowledge role of Pakistan in the ongoing war against terrorism

Associated Press of Pakistan

Pakistan to continue to support international efforts against terrorism: PM

ISLAMABAD, May 2 (APP): Highlighting Pakistan’s significant role in the struggle for elimination of terrorism, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday vowed that the country will continue to support international endeavors against this menace.“The arrangements for comprehensive and effective intelligence sharing between our intelligence agencies with other countries’ agencies including the United States are in place”, he said in a statement on the killing of Osama bin Laden.The Prime Minister in his statement also confirmed the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in an “intelligence-driven military operation” in the early hours on Monday at Abbottabad.

He said the operation was conducted by the US forces in accordance with the declared US policy that the American forces will take a direct action to eliminate Osama bin Laden, wherever found in the world.

The Prime Minister further said the killing of Osama bin Laden demonstrates the resolve of the international community including Pakistan to fight and eliminate terrorism.

Gilani said al-Qaeda had declared a war on Pakistan, adding, scores of Al-Qaeda sponsored terrorist attacks resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent Pakistani men, women and children.

Almost, 30,000 Pakistani civilians lost their lives in terrorist attacks in the last few years, he said and added more than 5,000 Pakistani security and armed forces officials have been martyred in Pakistan’s campaign against al-Qaeda, other terrorist organizations and affiliates.

The Prime Minister said as a result of terrorism, around double the number of those martyred, have been disabled or crippled.

The Prime Minister said it is Pakistan’s stated policy that it will not allow its soil to be used in terrorist attacks against any country.

Pakistan’s political leadership, parliament, state institutions and the whole nation are fully united in their resolve to eliminate terrorism, he added.
Gilani further said the incidents of terrorism were not only worsening atmosphere of law and order in the country but as a result of this the country was also getting economically instable, hurdles were being created in efforts to bring investment and people were living in an environment of uncertainty.
He said the killing of Osama Bin Laden will help in removing the hurdles in restoring peace in the world.

He said Pakistan always took part in efforts to establish peace in the region.
People of Pakistan are peaceful and all political parties are united against terrorism and extremism by rising above political affiliations, he noted.
The Prime Minister said the government is following a policy of reconciliation and objective of this policy is to take along all political parties for resolution of matters of national and international significance.

He expressed the hope that with the full support of people, efforts of all the political parties and military leadership will soon succeed in overcoming problems like terrorism and extremism.

This will not only help in achieving economic stability for people of Pakistan but for the whole region, he added.

Gilani was optimistic that the world would acknowledge role of Pakistan in the ongoing war against terrorism till success in this campaign.

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