Feb 26 , 2016
News
Sadiq seeks ‘enduring partnership’ with US for regional peace
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Thursday that a comprehensive Pakistan-US cooperation was inevitable for peaceful and prosperous South Asia.
Sadiq said that Pakistan was committed to an enduring partnership with the US for regional stability, improved governance and elimination of terrorism and extremism. He was speaking to US Ambassador to Pakistan, David M. Hale, who called on him at Parliament House on Thursday.
The speaker said the Pakistan-US alliance was not confined to the war on terror; it was a broad-based engagement in diverse fields because the convergence of strategic interests had necessitated deeper cooperation and a strong partnership between the two countries. He said that stronger inter-parliamentary relations, people-to-people contacts and US assistance to strengthen the legislative capacity of the Pakistani Parliament were crucial to an inclusive and robust democracy in Pakistan. He praised the United States for its assistance to Pakistan’s civilian institutions for better governance and urged greater cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science, technology, engineering, agriculture and education.
Sadiq informed the US ambassador that the Pakistani Parliament was the first in the world to establish a dedicated secretariat on Sustainable Development Goals. Also, he said, the Pakistani Parliament was the first parliament in the world that was completely powered by solar energy.
Referring to Pakistan’s role in the war on terror, Sadiq said that Pakistan’s struggle in this war was motivated by its desire for peace and security in the world. He said the last phase of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the ongoing military operation against the militants in Pakistan’s tribal areas, had been launched to defeat the militants and dismantle their network.
Hale appreciated industriousness and vitality of the Pakistani people and said the US was committed to engaging with Pakistan and harnessing its potential to create a brighter economic future for the Pakistani people. He said the resilient US-Pakistan partnership was vital to regional and global security. He reaffirmed the US commitment to address the evolving challenges in South Asia and beyond. He lauded the role being played by Pakistan in the war on terrorism and extremism. He said that Pakistan was not alone in this war and the US shared its concerns.
Hale reinforced the US commitment to a strong democratic governance in Pakistan and said that his country would continue to partner with Pakistan to build the capacity of the civilian institutions, parliamentarians and the parliamentary support staff. He endorsed Sadiq’s views on stronger inter-parliamentary relations and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk