Zardari rules out bankruptcy

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan's economy is not weak and the country will not bankrupt. He said that those who said Pakistan would become bankrupt were not sincere to the country. Asking the people not to heed the rumours of bankruptcy, he said that the PPP government would keep politics clean and transparent.

"We cannot tolerate any foreign interference and nor want to interfere in internal affairs of any other country according to rule of to live and let to live," he told senior journalists on Sunday. About his upcoming visit to China, the president said that Pakistan enjoys support and cooperation from China in every sector, besides enjoying cordial relations with the People's Republic.

Zardari said that some elements want to sabotage political system of the country and vowed to boost the economy.

He hoped the Friends of Pakistan Group would help in improvement of foreign investment in the country. He said that their stance was clear about the issue of Jammu Kashmir, adding that the PPP would support Kashmiris in their struggle.

He clarified that he never declared the freedom fighters of Jammu Kashmir as terrorists, and noted that the PPP could not change its stance on the divided Himalayan state and to support right to self-determination of the people of the region.

The government wants to consult and takes into confidence all political powers including PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif about all important issues, he said, adding that the importance was given to consultation in the appointment of senior officials.

About the anti-terror strategy, President Zardari pointed out that the challenge of terrorism could be overcome jointly and hoped that they combat terrorism with cooperation of all political powers. "We are fighting against terrorism in our own interest," he said.

He said that the government would polish the talent of the young people and encourage them to play their role for the development of the country. "We want to eradicate poverty under ideology of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto," he added.

Zardari expects India to abide by water accords: President Asif Zardari has said that India should abide by the international agreements on water sharing in the Indus River system, adding Pakistan would be paying high price for Indian move to block water supply from Chenab River.

"Dr Manmohan Singh (Indian prime minister) had assured me in our meeting in New York that New Delhi is seriously committed to water sharing treaty with Islamabad," President Zardari said in a statement on Sunday.

"We expect him (Manmohan) to stand by his commitment," he said. Pointing to the ramifications of the violation of the Indus Water Treaty, he said that the Indian move would damage the bilateral relations the two countries had built over the years.

"India should not trade-off important regional objectives for short-term domestic goals," he said. The government was pursuing the issue of Indian violation of agreement on water supply on the highest level, he said.

The government officials would be taking up the matter with the Indian officials, President Zardari said, adding both Pakistan and India should reap the benefits of shared border, rather than allowing that to become a burden for the two nations.

"Our two governments would be obliging to public sentiments if they move to strengthen the bilateral relations," he said. "However, our national interests are equally important and our government is committed to protecting them," he said.

"We hope that the Indian premier would remember agreements on the judicious sharing of the Chenab waters and New Delhi would look to better relations with Islamabad," the president said.