Talks with militants only if they lay down arms, says Pak PM

SHARM EL-SHEIKH — Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani vowed yesterday that his government would not negotiate with militants unless they laid down their arms, amid US concerns over Islamabad’s talks with the Taleban.
‘We will not have a dialogue with militants, we will not have dialogue with extremists or terrorists,’ Gilani told journalists at the World Economic Forum here.
Acknowledging a change in policy to ensue there is a political dialogue in troubled areas rather than unilateral force he said, ‘There should be a political dialogue with those who lay down their arms and want to cooperate with us in combating terrorism.’
Indicating that those areas would receive investment in education and economic development, he added, ‘I think this policy will be acceptable to the United States and they appreciate we are the people actually facing the threat. We have three million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan.’
He sought to dampen speculation on his meeting here with US President George W. Bush. ‘I must tell you we have good relationship with the Unites States, there will be good cooperation in the future and we are committed to fighting terrorism.’ He added: ‘We are not fighting for America, we are fighting our own war — I have lost my own leader Benazir Bhutto because of terrorism.’
Gilani, in his first overseas trip since assuming office, committed to the early reinstatement of the Judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf and dismissed speculation of any pressure being applied by the president.
‘We are committed to an independent judiciary and that is the reason on the very first day I was elected I gave the instruction for all the detained judges to be released immediately.’
He added on the reinstatement, ‘It is our intention, that is Mr Nawaz Sharif's intention, it is very, very clear but we have got to work out the modalities.’
‘We are committed to restoring the original 1973 constitution and there is no pressure absolutely from anybody. I have not accepted the resignations of PML-N ministers who resigned and I send a clear message there will be a stable government.’