President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani chairing a meeting with a US delegation headed by National Security Adviser James Jones at Aiwan-e-Sadr.-APP Photo
The government’s point of view on sectors the US assistance should concentrate was conveyed to National Security Adviser James Jones during a meeting with President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.
It was a rare meeting of leading government figures with a foreign dignitary, apparently to show that they were on the same page on issues of national importance. According to presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, President Zardari laid stress on democratic stability which he said could be ensured by pursuing a well-structured economic development agenda.
The leaders impressed on Jones that the US needed to review its aid strategy and focus on projects of larger impact but smaller physical presence, sources said.
The approach would help address the problem of growing anti-Americanism in Pakistan which was being propelled by suspicions about presence of a large number of Americans in the country. It was suggested that US should help Pakistan achieve greater access to markets in Europe and the US and set up ‘reconstruction opportunity zones’ in tribal areas by speeding up legislation on the issue.
Also on Pakistan’s wishlist was expediting disbursement of $2 billion in deferred payments of the Coalition Support Fund and pushing the Friends of Democratic Pakistan forum to fulfil their pledges.
The US was asked to help Pakistan rebuild infrastructure in militancy-hit tribal areas so that the gains made through military operations could be sustained.
Pakistan wants the US to provide about $200 million for building roads, dams and schools and restoring power supply in areas from where Taliban have been eliminated.
Jones was quoted as saying that after all that had happened the US would not like to return to days when Taliban ran the affairs in Afghanistan. He stressed that in deference to Afghanistan’s sovereignty the reintegration process should be Afghan-led with other countries providing their assistance in reintegrating those willing to abide by the country’s constitution and live as part of a stable democratic system.
President Zardari, however, asked the US to be mindful of the fact that Pakistan had legitimate interests in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan. Jones welcomed Pakistan’s decision to accept India’s invitation for talks. He expressed the hope that lowered tensions with India would help the country focus on anti-extremism and counter-insurgency efforts on the western borders.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
DTN News: Pakistan TODAY February 12, 2010 ~ US Urged To Focus On Stabilising Democracy, Economy
DTN News: Pakistan TODAY February 12, 2010 ~ US Urged To Focus On Stabilising Democracy, Economy
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - February 12, 2010: The government urged the United States on Thursday to focus its help on stabilising democracy and economic development in Pakistan. President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani chairing a meeting with a US delegation headed by National Security Adviser James Jones at Aiwan-e-Sadr.-APP Photo
The government’s point of view on sectors the US assistance should concentrate was conveyed to National Security Adviser James Jones during a meeting with President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.
It was a rare meeting of leading government figures with a foreign dignitary, apparently to show that they were on the same page on issues of national importance. According to presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, President Zardari laid stress on democratic stability which he said could be ensured by pursuing a well-structured economic development agenda.
The leaders impressed on Jones that the US needed to review its aid strategy and focus on projects of larger impact but smaller physical presence, sources said.
The approach would help address the problem of growing anti-Americanism in Pakistan which was being propelled by suspicions about presence of a large number of Americans in the country. It was suggested that US should help Pakistan achieve greater access to markets in Europe and the US and set up ‘reconstruction opportunity zones’ in tribal areas by speeding up legislation on the issue.
Also on Pakistan’s wishlist was expediting disbursement of $2 billion in deferred payments of the Coalition Support Fund and pushing the Friends of Democratic Pakistan forum to fulfil their pledges.
The US was asked to help Pakistan rebuild infrastructure in militancy-hit tribal areas so that the gains made through military operations could be sustained.
Pakistan wants the US to provide about $200 million for building roads, dams and schools and restoring power supply in areas from where Taliban have been eliminated.
Jones was quoted as saying that after all that had happened the US would not like to return to days when Taliban ran the affairs in Afghanistan. He stressed that in deference to Afghanistan’s sovereignty the reintegration process should be Afghan-led with other countries providing their assistance in reintegrating those willing to abide by the country’s constitution and live as part of a stable democratic system.
President Zardari, however, asked the US to be mindful of the fact that Pakistan had legitimate interests in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan. Jones welcomed Pakistan’s decision to accept India’s invitation for talks. He expressed the hope that lowered tensions with India would help the country focus on anti-extremism and counter-insurgency efforts on the western borders.
President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani chairing a meeting with a US delegation headed by National Security Adviser James Jones at Aiwan-e-Sadr.-APP Photo
The government’s point of view on sectors the US assistance should concentrate was conveyed to National Security Adviser James Jones during a meeting with President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.
It was a rare meeting of leading government figures with a foreign dignitary, apparently to show that they were on the same page on issues of national importance. According to presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, President Zardari laid stress on democratic stability which he said could be ensured by pursuing a well-structured economic development agenda.
The leaders impressed on Jones that the US needed to review its aid strategy and focus on projects of larger impact but smaller physical presence, sources said.
The approach would help address the problem of growing anti-Americanism in Pakistan which was being propelled by suspicions about presence of a large number of Americans in the country. It was suggested that US should help Pakistan achieve greater access to markets in Europe and the US and set up ‘reconstruction opportunity zones’ in tribal areas by speeding up legislation on the issue.
Also on Pakistan’s wishlist was expediting disbursement of $2 billion in deferred payments of the Coalition Support Fund and pushing the Friends of Democratic Pakistan forum to fulfil their pledges.
The US was asked to help Pakistan rebuild infrastructure in militancy-hit tribal areas so that the gains made through military operations could be sustained.
Pakistan wants the US to provide about $200 million for building roads, dams and schools and restoring power supply in areas from where Taliban have been eliminated.
Jones was quoted as saying that after all that had happened the US would not like to return to days when Taliban ran the affairs in Afghanistan. He stressed that in deference to Afghanistan’s sovereignty the reintegration process should be Afghan-led with other countries providing their assistance in reintegrating those willing to abide by the country’s constitution and live as part of a stable democratic system.
President Zardari, however, asked the US to be mindful of the fact that Pakistan had legitimate interests in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan. Jones welcomed Pakistan’s decision to accept India’s invitation for talks. He expressed the hope that lowered tensions with India would help the country focus on anti-extremism and counter-insurgency efforts on the western borders.
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