Balochistan but S. Waziristan operation to end soon: PM.

MULTAN, November 15, 2009 (Balochistan Times): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has made it clear that the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat against extremists in South Parisian will end before stipulated time, adding that, no military operation is being carried out in Balochistan. While talking to media men at Multan airport, the Premier went on say that no timeframe could be given for the completion of military ongoing offensive in South Waziristan, expressing the hope that the operation will soon be ended in the region. There was no threat to the countrys nuclear arsenal and it was completely safe and secure, Gilani said. Pakistan, the Prime Minister said, will not compromise on its nuclear programme and the countrys nuclear assets are safe under the Nuclear Command and Control Authority. Answering to a question, the Prime Minister said, during the meeting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked to take Islamabad into confidence, if Washingtons Policy on Kabul changes and she reassured that Pakistan will be taken into confidence, if US revises its policy on Afghanistan. The country had the will to fight the war against terrorism but the international communitys help would be vital in enhancing the countrys ability to win the war, he said. He said Pakistan only lacked state-of-the-art equipment to fight terror and the international community had been asked to help the countrys build its anti-terror capacity. The governments timely decision had resulted in successful operations in Swat and South Waziristan, he said. To a question on evidence regarding the reported Indian involvement in Balochistan, he said the issue had been taken up during his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister at Sharm-ul-Sheikh and was made part of the joint statement issued thereafter. The evidence will be presented at a suitable time, the Prime Minister added. Pakistan always wanted to have good relations with all its neighbours and desired the resumption of composite dialogue process with India, he said. Dialogue was the only way forward, he said. When asked about US drone strikes in countrys tribal areas, he said, such strikes were counterproductive. At one hand we are trying to separate militants from tribesmen but on the other hand drone attacks are doing exactly the opposite, he said. The US should transfer the drone technology to Pakistan, added by PM. To a question regarding financial losses suffered by the country in the war on terror, the prime minister said that international community, including the US, had promised to help the country in this regard.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)