Military offensive no solution for insurgency hit areas: Gilani

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has admitted that military operations in insurgency hit regions such as Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan would not help resolve the real issue and would have lasting effect.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Gilani said the government is taking all possible steps to ensure stability and peace in the region.
Gilani stressed that all political parties were taken on board before launching the military offensive in South Waziristan.
"The nation is also united on combating terrorism to the finish," The Dawn quoted Gilani, as saying.
He said the government has taken all necessary steps to ensure the safe return thousands of internally displaced persons (IDP's) who were rendered homeless following the military operation in the region.
Gilani added that people who have been forced to flee the region following the South Waziristan offensive were being provided all help by the administration.
"A sum of 8.5 billion rupees has been set aside for Waziristan IDPs and every displaced family was being given 5,000 rupees. An amount of Rs 25,000 would be provided to each family on return home," Gilani added.
Gilani has also said that the controversial issue of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) is dead and has been "buried forever."
Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of a function in Jamber where he inaugurated a power plant, Gilani said the NRO was no longer 'an issue'.
When enquired that whether Islamabad would discuss India's alleged involvement in fanning insurgency in Baluchistan with New Delhi, Gilani said the issue could come up for discussions, but only when his counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh comes forward for talks.
He said Pakistan believed in maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours, including India, on the basis of equality.
Commenting on the on-going military operation in South Waziristan, the stronghold of the Taliban, Gilani said the extremists would soon be flushed out of the region.
"In view of the nation's high spirits, it will not take long to fight out the terrorists," The Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.
Gilani stressed that a peaceful political environment was imperative for the country's economy to improve.
Despite the prevalent political chaos in the country, he said the situation was stable and pointed out that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is working to take all political parties on board.