US Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Pakistan for talks with President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday, as Washington seeks to pressure Islamabad to pursue militants while avoiding straining the relationship further. Biden, who travelled to Pakistan after two days in Afghanistan, said on Tuesday in Kabul that more support was needed from Pakistan if Washington was to continue efforts to control insurgents as it begins to withdraw its forces. The US Vice President will meet Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and discuss Pakistans economic situation, efforts to confront extremism and terrorism and future strategy on Afghanistan. Biden will extend support to Pakistan to help strengthen its economy, improve governance and security, and respond to its development needs, according to a US administration official. Pakistani leadership is likely to apprise the US Vice President of their concerns in addressing the grave economic issues that have come to the fore due to diversion of national resources in fighting terrorism and extremism. Gilani and Biden would review the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue aimed at improving mutual trust and promote stability of Pakistan. Early disbursement of annual US 1.5 billion dollar financial assitance would also figure in the talks. Pakistan has been seeking assistance from the US for its socio-economic sector, with particular focus on development of communication links, health, education and creation of employment opportunities for its youth, in a bid to sway away those living on the fringes of extremism. The assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and the counter terrorism measures taken by countrys law enforcement agencies would also be discussed in the talks. Biden has been keeping in touch with the Pakistani leadership frequently. He last telephoned Prime Minister Gilani in September to assure the US governments full support to Pakistan in the aftermath of the worst ever floods. The leaders would also discuss the Afghanistan and Pakistan annual review concluded recently. There is a growing understanding in the United States that Pakistan needs more economic assistance to address the deep rooted problems related to militancy and extremism, fermenting due to lack of economic activity and opportunities. He would also discuss ways to strengthen dialogue with Pakistan and Afghanistan for greater regional stability. The US is also planning to host another session of the US-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers dialogue . Bidens visit becomes more significant as it follows the visit of Burhanuddin Rabbani, head of Afghan High Council for Peace, who met Pakistani leaders to discuss a future course of Afghanistan.
