Richard Holbrooke calls on President Zardari

Special US Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke Tuesday evening called on President Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidency, where later he also had dinner with the President. Matters relating to fight against militants, the forthcoming meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP), rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), Pakistans energy needs and strengthening of civil law enforcing agencies were discussed in the meeting. Briefing journalists Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President stressed upon the U.S. envoy the need for allowing greater market access to Pakistani goods in the U.S. and European markets. The President said that Pakistans industrial growth and export potential had been severely restricted first because the region was a theater of war against the former Soviet Union and secondly due to rising militancy in the country as a consequence of the first. He said that if these factors had not hampered the countrys progress Pakistan today would not have been faced with the type of economic problems it is faced with today. The President said that the people of Pukhtoonkhwah and FATA were enterprising and if assisted they could transform the area and its people. In this context, the President emphasized the need for early adoption of legislation in the US on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and said that this will come as a great relief to the tribal people in their search for economic well being and social and political stability. Ambassador Holbrooke appreciated Pakistans recent successes against militants and the beginning of orderly return of internally displaced persons to their homes, Farhatullah Babar said. Holbrooke said that the purpose of his visit was to refocus US policy publicly about the region and to support Pakistan. He said that now that great success had been achieved in Swat and Malakand the US could give more attention to other areas of need particularly meeting Pakistans energy needs. The special US envoy said that President Obamas decision to preside over alongwith President Zardari the forthcoming meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) reflected the US governments desire to support any initiative aimed at lending critical strategic and economic support to Pakistan in this hour. He said the U.S. will also help Pakistan in overcoming its energy crisis. Ambassador Holbrooke also pledged continuing support to a democratic Pakistan.