Kashmir is Pakistan's "jugular vein": Gilani

From Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Aug 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
Sunday said that Kashmir was Pakistan's "jugular vein", even
as he vowed to resolve all issues with India through dialogue
so that both countries can get rid of the blights of poverty,
illiteracy and backwardness.
In an address to the nation on Pakistan's Independence
Day here, he said, "Nobody can deny the reality that Kashmir
is the jugular vein of Pakistan and the international
community has accepted the right of self-determination of
Kashmiris."
"Pakistan will continue to provide unhindered moral,
diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris so that they can
get their rights," Gilani said at a ceremony held at the
Convention Centre here.
At the same time, he said, Pakistan "wants to resolve
issues with its neighbour India through the process of
dialogue so that both countries can get rid of the blights of
poverty, illiteracy and backwardness".
Touching on foreign policy issues, Gilani said Pakistan's
was committed to peaceful co-existence and mutual harmony and
understanding.
"We want to promote relations with all countries on the
basis of goodwill and equality," he said.
In an apparent reference to US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton's call for India to take the lead in Asia, Gilani
said: "We are ever ready for cooperation with our friends but
we will not accept hegemony of anybody."

He described Pakistan's relations with the US as vital.
Pakistan sincerely desires the restoration of peace in
Afghanistan and wants to see it as a prosperous, stable and
independent country, he said.
Pakistan's relations with China are of historic
importance and friendship with it is "an important pillar of
the country's foreign policy", he said.
"Pakistan-China friendship, in real terms, is higher
than the Himalayan mountains and deeper than sea," he added.
Relations were being promoted with all Islamic
countries while Pakistan has historic and geographical ties
with Iran, Gilani said.
Implementation will soon start on an agreement on the
gas pipeline project with Iran, he added.