ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has given a clear message to the United States

Pakistan has said that it would not bow down to pressure by the UnitedStates against its national interest.

“There is no question of any country put pressure on Pakistan on matterswhich we believe are in our national interest,” Foreign Office SpokesmanMuhammad Faisal said in response to a question that the United States hadrenewed its demands on Pakistan to “do more” in efforts against militancy.

The spokesman said Pakistan’s foreign policy was based on principle ofpeace within and peace without.

“In all our domestic and international pronouncements, we are guided onlyby Pakistan’s national interest and its prosperity,” he said.

Muhammad Faisal said Pakistan and the United States were currently engagedalong with other regional stakeholders to pursue a political settlement inAfghanistan, which is Afghan-owned and Afghan-led.

He mentioned that in the same context, the US Special Representative onAfghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad visited the region including Pakistan coupleof weeks ago.

“Pakistan’s cooperation with the United States and the internationalcommunity to bring about lasting peace in Afghanistan is our firm belieffor elimination of terrorism in Pakistan and in region,” he said.

On the recently-held parliamentary election in Afghanistan, the Spokesmantermed it a positive development and hoped the process would continuetowards restoration of peace.