• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

US envoy, Pakistani President discuss security

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, June 24, IRNA -- US Special Representative for Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke Wednesday met Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed security situation in region and war against terror, presidential spokesman said.

The two leaders also discussed matters relating to Pak-US bilateral relations and Strategic Dialogue , spokesman Farhatulah Babar said.

Babar said that the meeting was part of the consultative meetings that Ambassador Holbrooke has been holding with Pakistan’s political leadership and state authorities.

Richard Holbrooke had been in Islamabad over the weekend and later traveled to Afghanistan. He again arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for more talks. He will also meet the army chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, sources said.

Progress on sectoral track meetings that were recently held in Islamabad for the preparation of the Fifth Round of Pak-US Strategic Dialogue scheduled in the third week of July also came under discussion during the meeting besides issues relating to regional situation and ongoing fight against militants.

Ambassador Holbrook reiterated US long-term commitment to the strategic partnership with Pakistan and said that the US administration was conscious of the need for creating opportunities for the people in the conflict areas in order to win battle of hearts and minds.

He reiterated the commitment of the US Government to help Pakistan in mitigating the losses suffered by it during war against militants, the spokesman said.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that overpowering and neutralizing the extremist elements in affected areas must be accompanied with the creation of an environment so that extremism and militancy is not allowed to rear its head.

“This can only be materialized through creation of opportunities for the people so that their energies could be utilized for creative and developmental purposes”.

He said that Pakistan had made huge human and material sacrifices to overcome the challenges of terrorism and militancy and its contribution towards counter terrorism is unmatched. “The Government, our security forces and our people are determined to eliminate this menace at any cost,” the President emphasized.

He said that the Government looked forward to international assistance in meeting the challenges faced by it. He said that Pakistan needed trade and market access for its product in order to set its economy on the path of stability and prosperity.