Pak now has right to seek nuclear deal: PM Gilani

Islamabad, Oct 2 (PTI) With the U.S. Congress giving its nod to the civil nuclear deal with India, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday indicated that the country may seek a similar arrangement with its close ally China.

"Pakistan will now make efforts for a civil nuclear
deal and they (the world community) will have to accommodate
us," Gilani told reporters in his hometown of Multan, soon
after the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal was approved by the U.S.
Senate Thursday.

Stressing that there was "no need to worry", Gilani said,
"Now that the civil nuclear deal with India has been
finalised, Pakistan will have the right to ask for a similar
deal because we do not want there to be any discrimination."

Asked if Pakistan would seek nuclear technology and
know-how from China, Gilani said Beijing and Islamabad had a
"unique relationship" that was a "time-tested and all-weather
friendship".

"Very soon the President (Asif Ali Zardari) and myself
will be visiting China. Our cooperation is not limited to any
one field (and we have) multi-dimensional cooperation. It is
not only government-to- government friendship, it is
people-to-people friendship with China. Our cooperation in
defence will increase," he said.

Commenting on Pakistan's relations with its immediate
neighbours, India and Afghanistan, Gilani said, "We should
have a joint strategy to bring prosperity and progress to this
region and to provide security to the people."

"Pakistan is holding talks with India to resolve
outstanding issues and there have been several meetings
between the top leaders of the two countries," he said.

Gilani said the outcome of the U.S. elections would not
affect Pakistan's stature as a key ally in the war on terror.

"Whoever comes to power in the U.S. will be needing
Pakistan (for the war against terror)," he said.

He said Pakistan is "not isolated" as it is "moving along
with the world" in the war against terror. However, he said
the U.S. would "have to respect the sovereignty and integrity
of Pakistan" it its campaign against militants.

"(Pakistan is) an independent country and nobody is
allowed to interfere in the sovereignty of Pakistan. This is
the assurance given by President (George W.) Bush to me when I
went to Washington for bilateral talks with him," he said.

In recent weeks, Pakistan has complained against
cross-border missile strikes and raids in its tribal areas by
U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, saying such actions violated
the country's sovereignty.

The government is holding dialogues with tribals, who
have formed 'lashkars' or local militias to fight militants,
Gilani said. These lashkars have said that foreigners and
terrorists will not be given shelter and that action will be
taken against anyone sheltering terrorists, he added.

"This is the first time such a thing has happened in
Pakistan (and the) army has the full backing and support of
the people of Pakistan when it takes action against
terrorists. This has sent out a good message," he said.

"We are united against terrorism and the government is
committed to protecting the life and property of the people.
If the government can't do that, it can't be called a
government (and) there will be a free-for-all."

On possible scrapping of the President's controversial
powers under the 17th constitutional amendment, including the
ability to dissolve the parliament and dismiss the premier,
Gilani said the parliamentary leaders of different parties
will be consulted to evolve consensus on this issue. PTI RHL
DEP