Updated on
Summary
U.S Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency. Both leaders exchanged views on wide range of issues. President Zardari said Pakistan valued a long term, multifaceted and durable relationship with the United States.Holbrooke was accompanied by David Lipton Under Secretary of Treasury for international affairs and other senior US officials. The President said that timely intervention by Holbrooke was a great help in ensuring the safety and securing the release of Pakistanis on board flotilla.President Zardari said that militancy and terrorism was the common enemy and that the existing cooperation between the two countries must continue to fight the menace. The President said Pakistan has paid a heavy price in terms of both human and material losses in fighting militancy and that it looked forward to international assistance in meeting the challenges faced by it. He said that Pakistan needed trade and market access for its products in order to set its economy on the path of stability and prosperity. The President said that the Government had undertaken an elaborate program for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced persons at a cost of $2.5 billion. It was the shared responsibility of the international community to support Pakistans efforts by providing necessary assistance, he said. The President also emphasized on early reimbursement of arrears of CSF of over 1.5 billion dollars which was rising every month. President also said that Pakistan was committed to the peace and stability of the region and would welcome efforts for restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan.
