Pak won't tolerate violation of its sovereignty: Zardari

Rezaul H. Laskar

Islamabad, Sep 20 (PTI) President Asif Ali Zardari
Saturday said Pakistan would not tolerate violation of its
sovereignty by any power in the name of fighting terror,
sending a clear signal to the U.S. against launching
cross-border raids on its tribal belt from Afghanistan.

At the same time, Zardari said, the government "should be
firm in its resolve to not allow the use of (Pakistani) soil
for carrying out terrorist activities against any foreign
country".

In his maiden address to Parliament, he said, "We will
not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty and territorial
integrity by any power in the name of combating terrorism."

Zardari's remarks were applauded by lawmakers and even
opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N. leader Nawaz Sharif, who
was present in the National Assembly.

Pakistan is in the midst of a raging row with America
over cross-border strikes by U.S.-led coalition forces from
Afghanistan targeting militant hideouts in its tribal region.

The President made it clear that Pakistan would have to
resolve all conflicts along its frontiers in the interest of
global peace. "I believe that the world has become a dangerous
place for nations with conflicts on their borders. So we need
peace, not only within Pakistan but also in our
neighbourhood," he said.

"At all times, we must keep our national interests in
mind. This means understanding the limits of confrontation.

"Under this strategy, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was
especially invited to my oath-taking ceremony as a mark of
Pakistan's sincere desire and consistent effort to promote
close relations and strengthen cooperation with the brotherly
country of Afghanistan," Zardari said.

At the same time, Pakistan would "position itself as a
trade and energy hub for South and Central Asia", the new
President said.

Pakistan's foreign policy, he said, will be "geared not
only to defence of territorial integrity and sovereignty but
also promotion of commercial and economic interests".

While strengthening "brotherly relations" with Iran,
Pakistan would take its "time-tested and all-weather
friendship and strategic partnership with China to greater
heights," he said.

Zardari said Pakistan wanted to build a long-term
partnership with the U.S. and its European partners that is
"broad-based and mutually beneficial".

Pakistan will also continue to extend full support to the
"Palestinian cause of self-determination" while rejuvenating
its relations with the Arab League, the Organisation of the
Islamic Conference and A.S.E.A.N. to promote bilateral trade
and investment.

On the domestic front, Zardari said an "immediate and
most urgent task" before the government is providing food
security to the people. He noted that welfare programmes like
Benazir Income Support Scheme had been launched for the poor.

The government, he said, was contending with the
problems caused by the economic policies of the previous
regime, including the issues of "pure consumption and huge
liabilities". The removal of subsides on oil and gas was a
"bitter pill we had to swallow because our balance of payments
account could not sustain the expenditures of the last
regime", he added.

To revive the economy, the government has launched a
programme for restoring investor confidence, resumption of
foreign investment, gradual build-up of reserves, exchange
rate stability and revival of sustainable growth, he said.