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Foreign Minister embarks on US visit to provide input to policy

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb 23 – Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi left here for Washington on Sunday to provide input to the review of the Pakistan policy currently being undertaken by the Obama Administration, officials said.

Qureshi is heading a high level delegation including representation from its Defence Ministry and security agencies.

The Afghan government will also take part in a US strategic review of the war in Afghanistan, and the Afghan delegation will be headed by the country's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta.

Afghan FM will be accompanied by Minister of Defence Abdul Rahman Wardak and Interior Minister Mohd Hanif Atmar. Afghan National Security Advisor and the head of intelligence, too, would be part of the delegation.

The review, ordered by Obama last month, will look at both military and non-military aspects of US policy in the region. The review is to be completed before a NATO summit in April.

US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, who visited Pakistan and Afghanistan earlier this month, has said the Pakistani and Afghan governments both sent messages to Obama administration asking if they could participate in the review by submitting input and getting ideas.

A Foreign Office statement says the Foreign Minister will visit Washington on 23-26 February for meetings with his counterpart Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Special Representative Richard Holbrooke and Co-Chair of the Policy Review Panel Bruce Riedel.

Qureshi will also meet National Security Advisor General (Rtd) James Jones and other senior members of the Obama Administration, the statement said.

Qureshi said yesterday he will try to remove concerns of the United States over the introduction of Islamic laws and setting up of Islamic courts during his talks in Washington.

The US, NATO, Britain and several other nations had expressed serious concern over the agreement between the government and Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammad for the introduction of Islamic laws.

Islamabad hopes to embark on a constructive relationship with the Obama administration and also expects a change in policy of drone aircraft attacks on the country's tribal regions.

Despite Pakistan's quest for a halt to US airstrikes, there has been no change as at least three attacks have been carried out since Obama has taken over on January 20th.

Pakistan has also concern over military surge in Afghanistan as it says more militants will cross into Pakistan as US will send more troops to the war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Obama last week ordered 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan, which would increase the U.S. forces there to a total of close to 55,000 by this summer.

Pakistani leaders want the US to balance the military dimension with dialogue and reconciliation as well as development in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister might seek US economic support as the country has suffered billions of dollars in the so-called war on terror after the Biden-Lugar bill, proposing economic assistance to Pakistan worth $1.5 billion per year, delayed last month.