WASHINGTON: The US State Department has said that US believes Yousuf Raza Gilani was still the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Geo News reported.
US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said this while replying to the answers of mediapersons during a daily press briefing.
“There was a court decision. He was given a 30-second sentence, I believe, and he remains the prime minister of Pakistan. And as such, we continue to work with him, and Ambassador Grossman did meet with him in Pakistan”, Nuland said.
The statement came in the response to a question that according to Supreme Court of Pakistan, Gilani was no longer a prime minister as he was convicted.
On the deportation of slain al Qaeda leader Osam bin Ladin’s family, she said that was a matter between the Pakistanis and the Saudis.
Clarifying what agencies were represented on US delegation visiting Pakistan, Nuland said that on the U.S. side, they had representatives from State Department, Department of Defense, National Security staff, and members of the intelligence community.
She added that on the Pakistani side, the representatives from the ministry of foreign affairs, defense, finance, interior, and others held talks with the US delegates led by Ambassador Marc Grossman Grossman.
“Ambassador Grossman also met with President Zardari, as I said, with Prime Minister Gilani, and with Foreign Minister Khar. And he also gave a press conference in Islamabad that I would draw your attention to”, Nuland said.
“With regard to reconciliation, obviously they – we talked bilaterally about where we are.”
Nuland went ahead to add that they also talked about it in the core group meeting -- Afghanistan, Pakistan.
To another question, she said given the situation the Taliban have not decided whether they want to participate in any talks.
“They’re in a pause phase, so they know what they need to do if they want to move this forward.”
On the opening of the supply routes, she said that there were no agreements reached on Friday as Ambassador Grossman said in Islamabad; it was the beginning of the reengagement conversation.
“We’re going to have to work through these issues, and it’s going to take some time.”