News
Friday, March 25, 2011
President asks US to take steps to remove mistrust
* Zardari stresses need to review all such actions that are counterproductive in ongoing war against terrorism
* Calls for early transfer of drone technology to Pakistan
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, on Thursday, called for removing mistrust between the people of Pakistan and the United States, saying it is the time for the two countries to take stock of the existing situation and focus on addressing all those issues which contribute towards creating misunderstandings and mistrust between both the nations.
“There is an urgent need to review all those actions that are counterproductive in the ongoing war (against terrorism) and create mistrust,” the president said during his meeting with a seven-member US delegation, led by Congressman Rob Wittman, at the Presidency.
Briefing reporters about the meeting, the president’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, said that the president, while highlighting great sacrifices rendered by the nation in the terror war, reiterated his call for early transfer of drone technology to Pakistan.
The spokesman added that matters relating to Pak-US bilateral ties, war against terrorism, drone attacks and the country’s energy requirements were discussed during the meeting.
“Tendency of intolerance and disharmony are crossing national boundaries and religious divides, and it is imperative for the world to act before it is too late,” the president was quoted as having said.
The United Nations and civilised nations, the president said, should work out special plans for promoting cultural and religious harmony to arrest the decline of rationality and sanity in the world.
Zardari termed the incident of deliberate desecration of the holy Quran by a US pastor in Florida a serious setback towards the efforts intended to promote harmony. He said “the government and the people of Pakistan strongly condemn this incident”.
The values of tolerance and harmony were advocated by the civilised world, the president noted and observed that “now that these values are receding, it is important that the UN takes note of it”.
Zardari told the delegates that he had been continuously pleading the case of Pakistan before the international community for securing preferential trade and market access to put the country’s hard-hit economy back on track.
He asked the US diplomats to use their influence and assist Pakistan in getting enhanced market access for its products and also to expedite the reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) legislation.
Speaking about the terror war, the president said the nation had been paying a heavy price in the war against terrorism both in terms of human and material losses.
The US delegation, comprising Todd Young, Scott Rigell, David Loebsack, Larry Kissel, Michele Pearce and Paul Lewis, appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in war against terror and promised continued American support in this respect. It reiterated the US administration’s commitment to assist Pakistan in all possible manners to overcome challenges faced by it.
Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Senator Sughra Imam, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter and others attended the meeting.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk