الرئيسية
Pakistan's blockade of the US supply line into Afghanistan, ordered
in retaliation for a border strike, is likely to stay in place for
weeks, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has told the BBC.
Pakistan's
fragile alliance with the United States crashed to new lows after
November 26 when NATO air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in what
the Pakistan military called a deliberate attack.
Gilani said in
an interview with the BBC aired Sunday that the ban, already in its
third week in the longest closure of the 10-year war, would not be
lifted until new "rules of engagement" were agreed with Washington.
Asked whether that would be a matter of days or weeks, he replied: "weeks".
Gilani said there was still a "credibility gap" with the United States.
"We are working together and still we don't trust each other. I think we have to improve our relationship."
"We
want to set new rules of engagement and cooperation with United States.
We have a resolve to fight against terrorism and therefore we want to
set new rules of engagement," he added.
Gilani stood by Pakistan's declaration that the border incident was a pre-planned attack, an allegation Washington rejects.
"Apparently
yes and still there is an internal inquiry being conducted and we are
waiting for the results," he said, adding that the motive for such a
deliberate attack remained "a big question mark".
in retaliation for a border strike, is likely to stay in place for
weeks, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has told the BBC.
Pakistan's
fragile alliance with the United States crashed to new lows after
November 26 when NATO air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in what
the Pakistan military called a deliberate attack.
Gilani said in
an interview with the BBC aired Sunday that the ban, already in its
third week in the longest closure of the 10-year war, would not be
lifted until new "rules of engagement" were agreed with Washington.
Asked whether that would be a matter of days or weeks, he replied: "weeks".
Gilani said there was still a "credibility gap" with the United States.
"We are working together and still we don't trust each other. I think we have to improve our relationship."
"We
want to set new rules of engagement and cooperation with United States.
We have a resolve to fight against terrorism and therefore we want to
set new rules of engagement," he added.
Gilani stood by Pakistan's declaration that the border incident was a pre-planned attack, an allegation Washington rejects.
"Apparently
yes and still there is an internal inquiry being conducted and we are
waiting for the results," he said, adding that the motive for such a
deliberate attack remained "a big question mark".