Gilani urges US to share details of Afghan policy
Says troop build-up in the country should not have spillover effect
Islamabad: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani renewed Pakistan's concern Wednesday over possible spill-over effect for Pakistan of any further US military buildup in Afghanistan.
He did so during a meeting with a visiting four-member US Congressional delegation led by Johan Tierney.
According to an official report, Gilani said the US should take Pakistan into confidence about its new Afghan policy. The prime minister said the US should ensure that a military build-up in Afghanistan does not have any effect on Pakistan's border province of Balochistan and other areas.
He urged the US and ISAF forces in Afghanistan to enhance intelligence sharing with Pakistan to strengthen the operation against militancy on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Gilani underlined the need to prevent flow of weapons, drugs, illicit money and militants across the border. He said Pakistan considered Afghanistan's stability vital for its own and was looking forward to continued cooperation with the new Karzai government in Kabul.
Emphasising the importance of revival of Pakistan's economy, he said the US should play leading role by providing enhanced market access to Pakistani products and encouraging investment in the country.
Equipment
The much-needed equipment for capacity building of the Pakistani security forces should immediately be supplied, the prime minister told the American delegation.
He proposed that US give at least 500 special scholarships for children of Pakistani security forces personnel who died while fighting terrorism.
