ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday demanded immediate repatriation of Dr. Afia Siddiqi and release of five of its nationals from Guantanamo Bay. Talking to US Assistant Secretary of State for South & Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher at the PM House, the Prime Minister said Dr Afia needs to be repatriated on humanitarian grounds.

Boucher assured to take up the cases of Dr. Afia and five Pakistani nationals in Guantanamo Bay prison with the concerned authorities for their expeditious repatriation.

Prime Minister Gilani informed Boucher on Pakistan’s persistent efforts to defuse the current tension with India and his government’s commitment to take action against any Pakistani national in case credible evidence was provided.

He hoped the new US government would pursue President elect’s initiative to appoint a special envoy to help resolve the outstanding issue of Jammu & Kashmir for lasting peace in the region.

Richard Boucher agreed with the Prime Minister on the need for an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

He said once the present crisis was defused and situation normalized, the US Government would move ahead with its initiative to help the two countries find solution of the Kashmir dispute.

Gilani condemned Israeli attack on Gaza that has led to hundreds of innocent civilian casualties and urged the US and the world to play its role for bringing an end to Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians.

Boucher apprised the Prime Minister that US Secretary of State was in contact with the important countries as well as with the Middle Eastern leaders to find an early solution to the Gaza crisis.

The Prime Minister also discussed holding of Friends of Pakistan meetings and Donors Conference in the immediate future to help Pakistan overcome its economic difficulties to strengthen government in countering the menace of extremism and terrorism.

He noted that despite the lapse of about three years, the promised legislation by the US Congress on reconstruction opportunities Zones (ROZs) was yet to materialize and hence needs to be expedited.

Similarly the pledged assistance for building the capacity of Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies and Foreign Military Funding for Pakistan’s defence forces need to be fast tracked.

He hoped that Biden-Lugar Bill would be taken up by the new Congress for its swift passage without any conditionalities.

Boucher highlighted the importance of cross border cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan and said the US fully appreciated Pakistan’s difficulties in fight against terror.

He assured the Prime Minister that the US government remained committed to assist Pakistan economically and efforts would also be undertaken to help Pakistan militarily through the new US Congress.

Advisor to PM on National Security, Secretaries Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior also attended the Meeting.

US Ambassador Ms. Anne W. Patterson was also present in the meeting.