Gilani calls US to adopt approach fair and non-discriminatory towards Pak

Islamabad, July 10 (ANI): While admitting that trust deficit between Pakistan and the United States still existed, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged Washington to adopt a fair and non-discriminatory approach towards Islamabad.

During a meeting with US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Carl Levin, and member of the committee Jack Read here, Gilani stressed that removing the existing trust deficit between both countries was the key to achieve the goals against terrorism.

A statement issued after the meeting quoted Gilani as saying that Pakistan was doing its utmost to strengthen cooperation with the US in intelligence-sharing and in the fields of defence to root out terrorism and militancy from its territory.

Commenting on its relationship with neighbour India, Gilani said Islamabad wants 'good neighbourly relations' with New Delhi and seeks peaceful resolution of all contentious issues, particularly Kashmir and the river water sharing dispute, so that it could focus more on its western border.

Referring to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reconciliation efforts, he said that peace and stability in the war torn country was of utmost importance as it was directly linked to peace and stability in Pakistan.

"Pakistan has repeatedly offered its assistance for building Afghan institutions, providing training to the Afghan Army, police and bureaucracy and it is constructively engaging with the US and other international partners to promote the shared goals of peace, security and development in Afghanistan," The Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.

He also told the high level US delegation that Pakistan believes that all the ethnic groups in Afghanistan needed to be politically engaged to supplement efforts for sustainable stability. (ANI)