Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said he wants to see BBC World News back on cable television in his country after the recent ban.

He said that he was "absolutely in favour of giving more freedom" to the media.

"We definitely... want the BBC to be operating in Pakistan," the BBC quoted Gilani, as saying.

Pakistani cable operators had blocked the channel in November in protest against a documentary entitled the 'Secret Pakistan'.

In its two-part documentary, the BBC had questioned Pakistan's commitment in tackling the Taliban, arguing that some in the Asian country were playing a double game.

The All Pakistan Cable Operators Association said other foreign channels broadcasting "anti-Pakistan" material had been warned that they too would be blocked. (ANI)