ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 3 (UPI) -- Pakistan's prime minister, commenting on the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, assured his country's support in the fight against terrorism.
In a statement confirming bin Laden's killing by a U.S. Navy SEALS team in an "intelligence-driven military operation" in Abbottabad, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said bin Laden's elimination showed the resolve of the international community, including Pakistan, to fight and eliminate terrorism, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Gilani thanked U.S. President Barack Obama for acknowledging Islamabad's support, which helped lead searchers to the hideout of bin Laden in Pakistan, stressing sensitivities in this regard must be given due importance rather than giving it a spin, APP reported.
The Pakistani government has said the operation against bin Laden was conducted in accordance with U.S. declared policy that its forces would take direct action against the most wanted terrorist wherever he was found in the world.
"The arrangements for comprehensive and effective intelligence sharing between our intelligence agencies with other countries' agencies including the United States are in place," Gilani said in his statement.
Gilani said Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used for launching terrorist attacks against any country.
His appreciation of Obama was conveyed during his meeting with a delegation led by Ambassador Marc Grossman, the new U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Gilani again stressed the need for positive messaging about his country rather than finger pointing at it, APP said. The report quoted Cameron as saying he regretted the negative comments about Pakistan in the aftermath of bin Laden's killing and that his government fully understands the ground realities in Pakistan.
