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Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Pak economic woes linked to war against terror: PM
* Gilani tells members of US House Foreign Affairs Committee development in militancy-affected areas vital to defeating extremism
* Seeks US help in negotiations with IMF
* Meeting with Manmohan paved way for resumption of talksISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economic challenges are directly linked to the war on terror, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday, and called on the US Congress to facilitate his country in addressing the root cause of terror.
Gilani made the comments while addressing a delegation of members of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee – led by its chairman, Howard L Berman – who called on him at Prime Minister’s House.
The prime minister said Pakistan needed greater market access through the Generalised System of Preferences Plus regime and the passage of the reconstruction opportunity zones bill in the US Congress. He also highlighted the need for the creation of jobs, development of infrastructure, provision of education and health facilities and improved security in militancy affected areas to extremism for the safety and security of Pakistan and the world.
Gilani hoped that the US Congress would play its role also in fast-tracking the disbursement of pledged economic and security assistance to strengthen his government.
Referring to his meetings with US President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator John Kerry, the prime minister said Pak-US relations had soared to a new height over the last year with increased high-level interactions. He also hoped that Obama would visit Pakistan in the near future.
Gilani called on both sides to follow up the last round of strategic dialogue with concerted efforts, and said meetings should be scheduled to prepare for the next round to be held in the second half of this year.
The prime minister said Pakistan had remained steadfast in fighting terrorism, and the country’s armed forces had achieved remarkable successes in the process. He said his government now wanted to focus on the economic development of areas cleared of militants and the entire country. He said Pakistan, therefore, wanted “friendly countries such as the US” to help in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions, to provide relief to the masses.
He also called on the US to use its influence over the European Union to help Pakistan acquire GSP Plus facilities for greater market access to the EU.
The prime minister also briefed the delegation on his meeting with his Indian counterpart in Bhutan, and described the talks as positive, as they had helped in overcoming misgivings and paved the way for the resumption of talks on all bilateral issues. He hoped that as a follow up of that meeting, the foreign ministers and the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan would hold talks in the near future to work out modalities for the resolution of all the contentious issues.
Congressman Howard L Berman praised Gilani for the “stabilisation of democratic institutions” in Pakistan and his remarkable success in building consensus.
The members of the delegation assured Gilani of their government’s continued support, and vowed to fast-track the US assistance pledged under the Kerry-Lugar law and urge other “friends” to deliver on pledges made in Tokyo last year.
Separately, the delegation also called on President Asif Ali Zardari – who asked the US congresspersons to expedite the passage of the reconstruction opportunity zones bill.
The meeting discussed Pak-US bilateral relations, Pakistan’s role in the war on terror and the regional situation.
Also, the congresspersons met Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi – who said the government and the people of Pakistan were committed to fighting the war on terror. He said the latest round of strategic dialogue had marked “a new beginning in bilateral relations between the two courtiers”. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk