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ISLAMABAD: A US Congressional delegation headed by Ms. Jane Harman, Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence called on President Asif Ali Zardari at President House. APP |
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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said the conditional US aid was creating difficulties for Pakistan in its fight in the war on terror, adding, both Pakistan and the US needed to take a holistic view of their bilateral relations.
He was talking to U.S. Congressional delegation headed by Ms. Jane Harman, Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Terrorism Risk Assessment to Pakistan who called on him at the Presidency here on Tuesday.
The delegation besides Ms. Jane Harman included Congressman Michael T. McCaul, Congressman Christopher P. Carney, Mr. Lanier Avant, Mr. Cory Horton and Major Khieem Kachson. U.S. Ambassador in Islamabad, Ms. Anne W. Patterson was also present during the meeting.
He said Pakistan would remain in contact with the International Community and the United States for getting rid of dangers and arrears of Coalition Support Fund would be paid soon.
Later briefing the media, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the President told the visiting delegation that democratic stability in Pakistan was contingent upon advancement of development agenda of the Government for which U.S. support is critical.
The President said that the Government of Pakistan appreciated President Obama’s policy of a reach-out to the Muslim world based on mutual respect and understanding.
Farhatullah Babar said that the President also appreciated President Obama administration resolve to assist Pakistan in energy and economic issues and we are encouraged by the bipartisan support of the U.S. legislators to assist Pakistan and engage it in a long-term partnership.
He, however, emphasized the need to expedite ROZ legislation in order to give local people hope for the better.
Pointing out that the latest Defense Authorization Bill had placed certain conditions on CSF reimbursements and Pakistan counter insurgency capability Fund, the President said that conditionalities created difficulties in the joint counter terrorism operations.
President Asif Ali Zardari underlined the need for giving political ownership to the war against militancy as critical for wining the war and said that the democratic government of Pakistan had given political ownership to this war, which was not available during dictatorship.
The spokesman said the president reiterated the resolve once again that it would be more helpful if the drone technology was given to Pakistan instead of the drones being employed by others to take out high value targets in the war against terrorism.
Underscoring the need for international support to Pakistan, economic and infrastructure development, the President said that democratic stability of the country was contingent upon advancement of its development agenda.
Fighting militancy on a long term basis needed concrete steps to alleviate poverty and empower people, he said and added that it was for this reason that the US and international support to Pakistan’s economic development was critical.
He said that addressing the issue of economic development could best be done through trade rather than mere aid and called for greater market access to Pakistani goods in the US and European Markets. He said that the international community also needed to take into account new factors like fighting militancy as a factor determining access of a country to the world markets.
The delegation expressed satisfaction over the ongoing military operation by the Pakistan army in Waziristan and termed it a big success.
Federal minister for defense Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for interior, Senator Rehman Malik, Senator Sughra Imam, Farah Naz Ispahani, Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar, Secretary interior, Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, Secretary to the President, Malik Asif Hayat and other senior officials were present during the meeting.
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