By Shumaila Andleeb

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 29 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday rejected the presence of Al Qaida in Pakistan and said the country’s most of tribal areas had been cleared from terrorists. “We are genuinely attacking the targets and the most areas have already been cleared of the terrorists,” the Prime Minister said in a meeting with the representatives of world’s leading media organizations, held here on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan was making serious efforts to ensure peace in the region, adding the world should strengthen Pakistan’s law enforcement capacity to enable it better fight the war against terrorism.

He said despite the challenges of terrorism, the government was pursuing the policy of dialogue, development and deterrence in tribal areas.

The Prime Minister said there was no Al Qaida people present in Pakistan currently, and mentioned that Pakistan paid a great price in the war against terrorism in the shape of more casualties than of the NATO forces.

On a question about a predator attack since President Obama was in office, the Prime Minister said that there was no agreement between the US and government of Pakistan to carry out such attacks.

He termed the drone attacks as counter-productive which created sympathies for the militants.

The Prime Minister said the government had full backing of the nation on its strategy to counter terrorism, and mentioned the successful military actions taken with the support of local indigenous lashkars.

To a question, the Prime Minister dispelled the impression that there was a gulf between the civilian government and the army.

He said instead the government, army and intelligence agencies were enjoying complete cohesion, adding that Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) was completely running under the Prime Minister.

On Mumbai incident, the Prime Minister said Pakistan strongly condemned the terror attacks and wanted to improve relations with India.

He mentioned his good personal relations with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said the two governments had taken a lot of confidence building measures in this regard.

About the prospects of resumption of confidence building measures between the two countries, Gilani said it would take some time.

On Hallbrook’s appointment as US special envoy to the region, he said the step had already been welcomed by the Pakistan government, and hoped that the policies of new US administration would bring a real and positive change.

On Pakistan and India’s efforts to resolve the Kashmir dispute, Gilani said Pakistan government had conveyed to India that it was serious in resolving all the issues including the Kashmir dispute.

He said such efforts would be more constructive for the people of the two countries if the core issues were resolved between Pakistan and India.

On a question about a few cases of burial of alive women in Pakistan, the Prime Minister said the PPP government strongly condemned such incidents and had great respect for all women, as its leader was also a respectable lady.