Gilani vows to implement resolution

Congratulating parliament on the unanimous adoption of a resolution by the joint-sitting of parliament, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday new terms of engagement with US will be implemented in 'letter and spirit'. "Today's unanimous resolution will enhance your respect and dignity before the world...I assure you that we will get these implemented in letter and spirit," Gilani maintained.
The assurance was given when the leader of opposition in National Assembly sought the government's pledge that the new resolution should not be sidelined like the earlier resolutions passed by parliament.
Addressing the joint-sitting of parliament, Gilani said that the unanimous adoption proved that on matters of national interest, "we are united".
For the first time, he said, matters of foreign policy and national security had come before parliament, adding that it was a landmark in Pakistan's democratic history.
He said that Pakistan could not isolate itself from the rest of the world. "This is the time to reengage with the world with respect and dignity," he said, adding that the stance taken in the wake of the air strikes on the Salalah check post had made the world realise "how a nation reacts when you push it to the wall".
Recalling his recent meeting with US President Barrack Obama, he said that he had told him to respect Pakistan's sovereignty. "I'd made it clear to him [President Obama] that the US must respect the sovereignty of Pakistan...he'd assured me that he would respect the recommendations of parliamentary committee on national security," he added.
The prime minister said that he had also made it clear to the US that unless the people "are not with you, wars could not be won". The US was also realised the fact that without masses' support, solution to any problem was not possible, he added.
Gilani reiterated that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan was in the Pakistan's interest. He said that any solution to the Afghan issue should not affect Pakistan's peace. "We have been telling the US for the past four years that military adventurism is no solution to the Afghan problem, but they realised it much later, he said.
"When I first met the then US president Bush, I told him that dialogue is the only way out to resolve the Afghan crisis but it was Greek to him at that time and now they've understood, [and] making efforts to resolve the issue through talks," he added.
He also made it crystal clear that Pakistan wanted to play a leading role to resolve Afghan problem. And now Pakistan would "have a vital role in resolving the Afghan issue as a party, which the US has also accepted", he added.
He said that Pakistan had faced the brunt when the US abandoned Afghanistan in a hurry after dismantling Soviet Union. The negligence of the US also helped militants reorganise themselves and as a result Pakistan suffered more than anybody else in terms of men and material, he added.