Pakistan urges US to ‘give peace a chance’

To reflect the sentiments of Pakistani nation:

PAKISTAN: Pakistani premier Thursday urged the United States to give peace a chance in the decade-long war on terror as Washington stepped up pressure on Islamabad to dismantle Taliban safe havens.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s remarks came after talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who arrived on a two-day visit to Islamabad late Thursday.

Gilani “called upon the US Secretary of State Ms Hillary Clinton to give peace a chance as envisaged in the All Parties Conference’s resolution, which reflects the sentiments of the Pakistani nation,” a statement issued by prime minister’s house said.

Pakistan last month closed ranks against increasing US pressure for action against the Al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, refusing to be pressured into doing more in the war on terror.

Gilani brought together opposition leaders, members of his fragile coalition and military commanders in a rare “all-party conference (APC)” to forge unity in the latest showdown with Washington.

The conference “recognised that there has to be a new direction and policy with a focus on peace and reconciliation. ‘Give peace a chance’ must be the guiding central principle henceforth.” The talks between Gilani and Clinton were “held in a cordial and frank atmosphere”.

“The Prime Minister reiterated the collective national view on the issue of peace in Afghanistan as articulated in the All Parties Conference’s Resolution,” the statement said.

Gilani urged the US to not let the disagreements overshadow the the “strategic relationship”. AFP