Islamabad, September 02: Gilani made it clear that Pakistan will talk on the basis of equality and mutual respect while keeping in view its national interests.
He lauded the political leaders who responded positively to his call and sat together to discuss the issue of Pakistan”s security while setting aside political differences.
Pakistan-US relations had plunged to a fresh low after Mullen accused the Inter-Services Intelligence agency of backing the Haqqani network in carrying out terror attacks in Afghanistan and described the Haqqani network as a “veritable arm” of the ISI.Referring to the assassination of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, Gilani said President Hamid Karzai has “some misunderstandings” on the issue.
“I want to convey to President Hamid Karzai, who is my brother and friend and with whom we have good relations, that he has some misunderstandings on the assassination of Professor Rabbani,” he remarked.Noting that he visited Afghanistan to express his condolences over the assassination of Rabbani, Gilani said Pakistan is ready to provide any security or intelligence assistance in probing the killing.
“They (Afghans) cannot doubt us. Pakistanis are a self-respecting nation. Pakistan neither interferes in anyone”s affairs nor allows anyone”s interference in our affairs,” he said.Gilani”s remarks came after the Afghan intelligence service said it had handed over evidence that Rabbani”s assassination was planned in the southern outskirts of Quetta where key Taliban leaders are based.
——PTI