Amidst assertions by the United States that it will not hesitate to strike Al Qaeda targets in border areas of Pakistan, Islamabad has said it will not allow troops from any country to operate in its territory and was capable of dealing with terrorist elements.
"We will never allow any country to violate our sovereignty and integrity," he said.
Aziz said Pakistan was cooperating with the world in fighting terrorism and believed in strong coordination among the countries. "We believe in intelligence-sharing, cooperation and coordination with friendly countries that are committed to fighting this scourge," he said.
US to work with Pak in hunting down Al Qaeda militants
Referring to the statements of US presidential candidates about attacking Pakistan and holy places of Muslims, Aziz told the Al Arabia channel that Pakistan has reacted to these statements strongly. He said no Muslim country will tolerate the attack on Islam's holy places. "Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are very close strategic partners and we will never sit back if anybody tries to harm Saudi Arabia or holy places," he said.
On the reports of presence of Al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan he said, "We will do whatever it takes to prevent terrorism. But we cannot and will not accept the presence of any foreign troops in Pakistan."
"If we share credible, quantifiable and identifiable intelligence, then Pakistan will act, we have the capacity and capability to act," he said.
'Military rule in Pak producing a failing state'
On an alleged meeting between President Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, he said there were no specific deals, but only discussions.
He said the major election will be the election of President Pervez Musharraf which would be held in line with the constitution, and these elections have to be completed between September 15 and October 15. "We are very hopeful President Musharraf will contest these elections and will be successful," he said.
Replying to a question about process of general elections, Aziz said after the completion of the tenure of the present assemblies, which will be for the first time in the parliamentary history of the country, a care-taker set up will take over the charge of the government and conduct fair, free and impartial elections.
He said all parties will be given free hand in the next general elections. PML and its allied parties, he said, are in a comfortable position to win the elections.
Aziz said the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and its allied parties would contest the next general election from a single platform, adding Pakistan Peoples Party was not the member of this coalition.
"We are not going into any election alliance, with any other party except with the parties which are in our coalition. They include PML, PML-F, Muthahida Quami Movement, Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao and some independents from tribal areas," he added.
On Afghanistan, he said Pakistan has been extending cooperation to Kabul for its stability.
He said being in close proximity with Afghanistan, where foreign troops and locals are fighting, Pakistan has not only supported three million Afghan refugees, but was also fighting the elements who found haven inside Pakistan in these refugee camps.
"We believe that our country should never be used as haven for terrorists; we believe that anybody who lives in Pakistan should never challenge the security of another country."
On the Lal Masjid operation, Aziz said the policy of the government throughout was to settle the issue through negotiations.
About the reaction to the army action against Lal Masjid, he said there was no such alarming reaction. The reaction in the tribal areas was due to many other factors.
Aziz said the government was not against madrassas. "We encourage religious education. Every faith in the world has seminaries, so why not Islam...But if the seminaries are used to disturb peace, no government can accept that in the world".
Relations between Pakistan and the United States, he said, are driven by national interest of both the countries and there is nothing like "love and hate" in these relations based on mutual respect.
He said both the countries have commonality of views on many issues adding that it's a good relationship. He said the relationship will remain good if both countries keep their national interest supreme in these ties.
About Iran's nuclear issue, he said Pakistan believes that being signatory to Non-proliferation Treaty, Iran must not proliferate and must not produce nuclear weapon.
However, Iran should have the right for peaceful use of nuclear technology under IAEA standards.
He said Pakistan is against the use of force against Iran to resolve this issue and always advocated that this should be resolved through peaceful means.
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