Aid to Pakistan should be unconditional: PM

* Gilani reciprocates Manmohan Singh's desire for peace with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been playing a frontline role in the war against terrorism and does not want any strings attached to the Kerry-Lugar bill or any other assistance for the country, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday.




Talking to reporters during a visit to the National Database and Registration Authority's (NADRA) office in G-8, Gilani said, "We will not compromise on Pakistan's honour and dignity." The prime minister said the country was passing through a difficult phase and it was important that the international community help it at this juncture.




To a question about the Swat operation, Gilani said the military had been successful in the operation, adding that Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi chief Sufi Muhammad was also being interrogated and all terrorists would be brought to justice. Asked about the difficulties in procuring passports by the people going for haj, the prime minister said the government would take steps to address the problem.




He said as part of its manifesto, the Pakistan People's Party government wanted to ensure free and timely delivery of computerised identity cards to the people and directed NADRA to deliver the cards at people's doorsteps. About regularisation of the services of NADRA employees, he said the government was committed to providing permanent jobs to people, adding that the remaining contractual employees of NADRA would also be regularised.




Peace: Later, a handout issued by the Prime Minister Secretariat said Gilani had reciprocated Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's desire for peace with Pakistan, which he expressed in his address to Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The prime minister said he had "useful talks" with Singh during their meeting at Sharm el-Sheikh, adding that Singh had "rightly emphasised the importance of honourable settlement of the outstanding issues" between New Delhi and Islamabad.