Pakistan says tensions with India affecting war against terror

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the country's focus on the war on terror is being affected because of persistent tensions with India.

"While Pakistan is fully committed to taking to logical conclusion the ongoing operations against the Taliban, the country's forces are overstretched because of perpetual tensions on the eastern border," Gilani said Friday at a meeting with James Jones, US National Security Adviser, Xinhua reported.

The prime minister said the US should be "sensitive" to Pakistan's core interests including the Kashmir dispute, issues related to water, the Indian military's capability and the balance of power in South Asia.

He said the US should use its influence with India to resume the composite dialogue process and bring down tensions with Pakistan, to enable Islamabad to concentrate on the war on terror.

Gilani welcomed the US initiative to take Pakistan into confidence and seek its input in the ongoing review of the Afghan policy, but expressed concerns over the possible effects of a surge in US forces in Afghanistan, especially in Helmand.

He also said that reimbursement of Pakistan's claims from the Coalition Support Fund had been "inordinately delayed".

Jones said that his country would continue urging the Indian leadership to resume the composite dialogue process and that he was sent to Islamabad to convey to the leadership the US president's sincere intention to pursue a long-term strategic partnership.

He added that the US was committed to assisting Pakistan in the reconstruction of areas affected by terrorism and the capacity building of its forces.

Last updated on Nov 14^th, 2009 at 14:54 pm IST--IANS