Democracy best to counter terror: PM

ISLAMABAD- Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said that democracy was the best system to combat terrorism, and urged the United States to support government's endeavours to improve its economy and living standard of the people.
The premier expressed these views during his meetings with two separate delegations comprising US Senators and members of House of Representatives, who called on him at the PM House.
The delegations comprised Senator Ben Nelson, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressmen Allyson Schwarz Wayne Gilch and US Ambassador in Pakistan Anne W Patterson.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan valued its strategic relationship with the US and desired to further expand its cooperation in trade, investment, and economic and social sectors.
He urged the US to provide greater market access to Pakistani products in the US.
The Prime Minister termed terrorism a global phenomenon and a threat to humanity that had ruined economic development and global peace. The world community, he said, had to develop a collective approach to arrest the trend of terrorism and extremism by addressing its root causes.
Gilani stressed the need for increased intelligence sharing between the two countries to address the issue effectively and urged the Senators to ensure early passage of legislation pertaining to the ROZs.
The Prime Minister said his government, that is pursuing a three-pronged strategy against terrorism, would go for a political dialogue with moderate elements that have renounced war and laid down arms.
Besides, he said, the government was focussing on economic uplift, empowerment of Tribal Areas through establishment of ROZs while continuing its campaign against extremists and terrorists.  Pakistan believed in a varying combination to eventually help achieve the common objective, he added.
Recalling the recently held general election, Gilani said the people of Pakistan have given a clear mandate in favour of the moderate and democratic forces who formed coalition governments both at the centre and in the provinces which auger well for strengthening all state institutions and democracy.
While appreciating Pakistan's efforts in countering extremism and terrorism, the members of the delegation said the relations of the United States with Pakistan and its people were very important, and expressed desire by the US for developing a stable and multifaceted relationship with Pakistan.
The members of the delegation apprised the Prime Minister that there was ample opportunities to further expand their ties in economic, trade, defense and counter terrorism areas.
They expressed the confidence that the US lawmakers would be keen to work with the democratic government in Pakistan.
NNI adds: A group of visiting American lawmakers Tuesday said they were not in Pakistan to lobby for President Pervez Musharraf or for the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
"We are not lobbying for the President to either retain office or leave the office," Congressman Adam B Schiff told a group of journalists at an informal discussion. US Representative Allyson Y Schwarts also spoke in the question-answer session after they met President Musharraf, political leaders and members of the parliament.