US-Pak dialogue shouldn’t affect Indo-US ties: Gilani

“As far as India is concerned,the whole world knows that we want good relations with our neighbours. We want regional stability and the US too desires regional stability and better relations between us and our neighbours,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an official function.

Gilani was responding to a question on the impact of the Pakistan-US strategic dialogue on the regional situation.

Referring to the dialogue,he said Pakistan’s “focus is on the war on terrorism and we have to keep focussing on that.”

Asked about India’s reservations about Pakistan using American aid to boost its military,Gilani said,”when we want better relations with our neighbours,how can it be possible that this aid will be diverted for other purposes?

“Economic assistance will be used for economics,and (aid from the) Coalition Support Fund will be used for defence (purposes),” he added.

Pakistan’s electricity shortage and crippling energy crisis was “priority number one” in the strategic dialogue with the US,he said.

The world is “giving attention to this issue and will help resolve” it,he added.

In response to another question on Pakistan’s differences with India over the sharing of river waters,Gilani said: “The waters issue has been already been taken up through diplomatic channels and,god willing,we will make progress on it.”

Gilani also said the Pakistan government had no knowledge about the Afghan government’s parleys with militant factions.

“When they share this information with us,we will give our point of view,” he said.