Updated on
Summary
The Director of US National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair calls on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency. The President notified during the meeting that drone attacks are against the sovereignty of the country and called upon the U.S to assist Pakistan in civilian nuclear technology to help the country overcome its energy crisis and bridge the trust deficit between the two countries. National Intelligence Officer for South Asia National Intelligence Council, US Ambassador Ms. Anne W. Patterson and Jonathan D. Bank, Regional Affairs Counselor, were also present during the meeting.The Pakistani side included Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Director General Inter Services Intelligence Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui, Senator Sughra Imam and senior officials.The President also called upon the US administration for early transfer of drone technology to Pakistan for its effective use by their own security forces and for its wider public acceptability.President reiterated that Pakistan has suffered a huge loss of over 35 billion dollars during the last eight years as a result of the fight against militancy in addition to the colossal and unquantifiable cost in terms of social and human losses.The President, during the meeting, also called upon the US to strengthen and enhance counter terrorism capabilities of the Pakistani security apparatus through provision of timely assistance and necessary tools and equipment.
