Gilani raises Bajaur airstrike with Bush

SHARM El-SHEIKH (Agencies) - Pakistan and United States Sunday vowed to enhance their bilateral economic and defence cooperation, and affirmed the resolve to transform existing ties into long-term strategic partnership.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and US President George W Bush who met here on the sidelines of World Economic Forum on Middle East, discussed ways and means to enhance economic cooperation between US and Pakistan in diverse fields.

Bush and Gilani also pledged to fight terrorism with strong relations between the two nations in the aftermath of elections that seated new leaders in Islamabad.

Both the leaders vowed at their first meeting to combat 'terrorism', but gave no public indication of a future joint policy.

Bush only indirectly raised US unease saying that he and Gilani held a 'very candid discussion' and that he had suggested that Washington and Islamabad could productively cooperate on economic matters.

Pakistan, Gilani said, was committed to fight terrorism and extremism but he also reminded the US President that his government had been democratically elected and 'there's a change for the system'.

"And I've been unanimously elected as the prime minister of Pakistan; that's the first time in the history of Pakistan."

Bush said improving Pakistan's economy would lessen the allure of extremism. Gilani, meanwhile, promised to fight terrorism, calling it 'against the humanity'.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Bush, who met Gilani for the first time, said they spoke about a 'common desire to protect ourselves and others from those who would do harm' and he thanked the Prime Minister for his steadfast support.

Asked whether the missile strike, which killed 18 people in Bajaur Agency and which was strongly condemned by Gilani, had been discussed, the Prime Minister said 'yes', while Bush did not comment.

Gilani, standing next to Bush outside his hotel villa, said terrorism and extremism were 'the biggest threat to the world' and pledged that his government was committed to fighting it.

Gilani talking to media said Pakistan has given sacrifices in the anti-terror war. "I have lost my own great leader Benazir Bhutto because of terrorism," he added.

"I appreciate the fact that you're committed to working to make sure that relations between the United States and Pakistan are strong and vibrant and productive," Bush said.

"Relations are good between our two countries and they will continue to be good," he said.

Bush and Gilani said they also discussed high food prices, energy issues, and economic cooperation. Bush assured US help for Islamabad to meet the food crisis in the country.

The US President said he held comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Gilani on various issues and hoped that the bilateral ties will be further strengthened. He lauded Pakistan's role in war against terrorism.

Gillani said Pakistan is determined to fight against the menace of terrorism and extremism.

Bush thanked Gilani for his 'steadfast support' in fighting terrorism, saying that they shared a 'common desire to protect ourselves and others from those who would do harm'.

"Our government is committed to fight terrorism and extremism; it is against the humanity and it's against the world," said Gilani.

Acknowledging Pakistan's economic, energy and food crises that could hamper its role in the war on terrorism, the US President offered cooperation on economic matters to make the 'strong and vibrant' relations between Washington and Islamabad more productive.

"The truth of the matter is a population that has got hope as a result of being able to find work is a population that is going to make it harder for the extremists and terrorists to find safe havens," he said.

During the hour-long meeting, Bush lauded Pakistan's initiatives to curb terrorism and extremism, posing threat to the entire world, the official APP news agency reported.

"The Prime Minister and I talked about our common desire to protect ourselves and others from those who could do harm...I am thankful for the steadfast support from Pakistan," Bush said after his talks with Gilani.

The Prime Minister said his government was committed to fighting against terrorism. "We have lost our great leader Benazir Bhutto because of terrorism. We stand by the world in the fight against terrorism," he said.

The two leaders also discussed ways and means to enhance economic cooperation and called for expanding bilateral ties in the fields of defence, commerce and socio-economic uplift.

"I appreciate the support of President Bush to our country on social sector, economy and energy...We want to work together on these matters," Gilani said.

Describing the bilateral ties as strong, vibrant and productive, Bush said, "This meeting will help advance these relations."

During the talks, the two leaders also discussed the situation in Afghanistan. They noted that both Pakistan and Afghanistan needed to jointly play their roles in ensuring stability in the region.

Bush said the US government wanted to strengthen its relations with Pakistan on strategic level and would continue to work with the new government in Pakistan extending all coordination.

He mentioned Pakistan's initiatives to curb the menace of terrorism and extremism, posing threat to the entire world, and lauded the fact that the people of Pakistan were willing to fight against terrorism.

Gilani said he discussed with President Bush the threat faced by the world of extremism and terrorism, adding the new democratic government was well placed to deal with the issue of terrorism.

The two leaders also discussed ways and means to enhance economic cooperation between US and Pakistan and urged for expanding bilateral ties in the fields of defence, commerce and socio-economic uplift.

Bush said ties between Pakistan and US were good and would continue to be good. "This meeting will help advance these relations," he added.

Gilani said there was a change in the system with the formation of new democratic government in Pakistan. He said "I have been unanimously elected as PM of Pakistan. This is for the first time in the history of Parliament in the country and reflects the desire of the people to see a visible change in the system."

During the talks, the two leaders also discussed situation in Afghanistan.

They noted that both Pakistan and Afghanistan needed to jointly play their roles in ensuring stability in the region by taking effective measures within their borders.

He mentioned the government's three-pronged strategy with specific focus on political dialogue and socio-economic uplift of the tribal people, being implemented in tribal areas to eradicate extremism.

President Bush said Pakistan was dealing with serious issues including the food crisis. "I told the PM that we can talk to President of Afghanistan to make his country self-sufficient to reduce pressure on Pakistan."

 From President Bush's side, the meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, while the Pakistani side included Special Assistant to PM on Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Special Assistant to PM Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Environment Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi.

Later, Hina Rabbani Khar and Shahnaz Wazir Ali briefed the media about the meeting and said the major focus of the talks was economic cooperation, besides terrorism and socio-economic reforms.

Ms Khar said Pakistan's relations with neighbouring countries also came under discussion with specific focus on ties with India. She quoted President Bush saying that it was the right time for the resolution of Kashmir issue.

Shahnaz Wazir Ali referred to Bush's statement on Pakistan's internal matters such as relating to judges issue, which he said should be dealt by Pakistan itself.

She said President Bush also mentioned the summary for the establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in tribal areas, which had been forwarded to US Congress for approval.