PM Nawaz Sharif to take up drone issue with US President

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has reiterated that drone attacks are against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and he would discuss the issue again with the American leaders during his visit to the United States.

He was talking to newsmen in London‚ during a stop-over while on his way to Washington.

He said Pakistan raised its concern in the UN General Assembly and the world appreciated it.

The Prime Minister said our stand regarding the drone attacks is clear and there is no duplicity in our policy.

About talks with Taliban he stressed the need for serious efforts and the efforts should also be made from the other side.

He said all parties agreed to talks with Taliban and we start talk but then violence erupts and things get off track.

On Kashmir‚ the Prime Minister said in his US visit in July 1999‚ he had clearly told President Clinton that if the US intervened‚ Kashmir issue could be resolved.

Nawaz Sharif said that President Clinton promised‚ but then things changed.

He said India and Pakistan both are nuclear powers and the region is a nuclear flash point. He said though India did not want such intervention‚ but the world powers should get involved to resolve the issue.

Replying a question about civil nuclear technology‚ the Prime Minister said it is Pakistan’s legitimate right to benefit from it and he would take up the issue with the US leaders.

Talking about post-NATO pull-out situation in Afghanistan‚ the Prime Minister said Pakistan had its own place and role to play.

The Prime Minister said he would also attend trilateral conference on Afghanistan with President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister David Cameron in UK during his upcoming visit to the UK. He said we will try to restart our efforts for peace in Afghanistan.