Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday told the United States that incursions by the US-led NATO forces in the tribal areas instead of solving the issue of terrorism will further compound it, APP reported. Talking to reporters at the Prime Minister House, Gilani said he has told the US ambassador in Pakistan Anne W Patterson that these incursions were detrimental to steming terrorism in tribal areas. “I have told the US ambassador that we can better tackle the situation in tribal areas...President Bush had given me assurance that Pakistan's sovereignty will be respected and he must fulfill his promise,” the Prime Minister said. Before addressing the waiting media, Gilani had a separate meeting with Ms Patterson in the lush green lawns of the Prime Minister House. Replying to a question on the mechanism of combating terrorism, Prime Minister Gilani said that he will take along all the political parties inside the parliament and evolve consensus on all major national issues. He said, very soon a joint session of the parliament will be convened where the parliamentarians will be given briefing by concerned authorities and the army on the sensitive issues, concerns and risks facing the country. He expressed his satisfaction at the ongoing military operation in Bajaur Agency, which he said has complete backing and support of tribal ‘lashkars'. These Lashkars, Gilani added, have warned militants not to indulge in subversive activities and have burned the house of those found involved in acts of terrorism.
