Pakistan to pursue War on Terror to its 'logical end': Zardari
While speaking with the shadow foreign secretary of United Kingom, Douglas Alexander at the Aiwan -e-Sadr, he said that “our sacrifices exceed any other nation.” The President said added that Pakistan deserved and expected recognition by the international community.
Douglas Alexander was accompanied by UK High Commissioner Adam Thomson, Senior Advisor Tom Price and Jasper Thornton.
Briefing about the meeting, the Spokesperson to the President said that Pak-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue, war against militants, recent floods, UK assistance and regional situation were discussed during the meeting.
The President said that Pakistan wished to have friendly and peaceful relations with all the countries based on equality and mutual respect.
He said that Pakistan would continue with its efforts to support every development that contributed towards peace, prosperity and stability of the region.
President termed the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) of the two countries as a milestone in bilateral relationship that aimed at intensifying mutual interactions in the realm of security, trade, health and other sectors, including education.
He said that enhanced and regular interactions as envisaged by the dialogue would help maintain momentum in the relationship and in convergence of point of views on important issues concerning the two states.
The President also stressed the need for further enhancing economic cooperation. He said that Pakistan was passing through one of the difficult phases when its economy was under great stress due to a recent jolt to it by yet another devastating floods.
An economy already bearing the brunt of war and last year’s natural calamity has once again been hit by rains and floods where around 8 million people have been affected, he added.
The President said that Pakistan looked forward to continued international support in trade and enhanced market access for its products in the European Union.
He also appreciated UK’s support at the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) platform.
He reiterated that poverty, lack of opportunities and sense of deprivation were among the main causes that contribute towards militant mindset.
He said that in order to find a permanent solution to these problems the international community needed to assist all those who were struggling to overcome these root causes that breed militant mindset.
The President said that a nation, which had been worst hit by the scourge of militancy and militant mindset, expected recognition of its countless sacrifices, both in human and material terms.
“All we ask from the international community is to facilitate our trade and help us creating economic opportunities for the youth and wean them away from militants,” he said.
Douglas Alexander expressed sympathies over the devastation caused by the recent floods.
He said there was general appreciation for the sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan in the ongoing war against terror and hoped that the international community would assist the Government of Pakistan in the capacity building of its institutions as well as in exploring trade opportunities and better access to the market for its products.
Pakistan side included Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Secretary General to the President M Salman Faruqui, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar.
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@John: The world trusts the US even less....so what? I don tcare if the world trusts us, we are a nation of peacekeepers, we brought the Vietnam war to a close, we helped defeat the USSR, we have the highest number of men in the UN peacekeeping missions.
Yes we are peacemakers and proud of it, we dont shake fake vials in the UN and attack iraq, we did not plan any Bay of Pigs.
One wonders why this sudden spurt in violence against Shia Community in Pakistan. Feel it is due to Pak-Iran closeness which others could not bear to tolerate.
Guns and bullets do not beget prosperity. Prosperity and trade begins when there is trust. Right now Pakistan does not have the trust of the world community.
Response Since 2008, when the new People’s government assumed the reigns of Pakistan, things began to warm up all over again between Pakistan and Iran, which unfortunately had reached a crescendo during Musharraf (another military dictator) era and more so had come to the end of the roads. Zardari has declared relations with Iran as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He has vowed to cement the relations between the two countries and for the purpose he embarked for Iran. It was due alone to his concerted efforts that Iran and Afghanistan joined hands with Pakistan to fight against terrorism in a conference against this menace. This visit of President is slap on the faces of those, who was propagating against PPP government for distancing itself from Iran because of US pressure. It is gigantic evidence that PPP government is pursuing an independent foreign policy and does not take dictation like previous regimes of right wing political parties and dictators. The willingness of Iranian government to provide Pakistan electricity will alleviate the problem of power shortage.. All of this has been possible due to focused and sustained efforts by Zardari. He has continued with the legacy of Bhutto of maintaining close ties with Iran and other Muslim countries.
I dont know why are we so emotional, strategic depth and strategic death are not at all correlated, all countries including PK, Af., KSA, USA, China and India have certain interests in the region and there are always conflicting areas in those interests, and all are trying to play their game well. PK as the immediate neighbor of Af. has direct impact on us and not on India or US or KSA or China and after US troops withdrawal, there needs to be a political setup to run that country and what PK is trying to avoid is not to have a hostile country on its western birder. I dont know what is the rocket science about this, there is US aggression in Af.and we are next door neighbor and investment and money does not flow where there is war so we also need to blame what we are in - please see Af., Libya, Iraq where US is fighting and we are sustaining with what ever strength we have.
I accept the Prezzi's stmt except that what is logical to Pakistan is illogical to the rest of the world. So it is better for the Prezzi to spell out what exactly he means by "Logical conclusion"
The military has already declared that they will not fight their Muslim brothers so who will fight terrorism in Pakistan and what would be the logical end ??
Recall": Friends of Democratic Pakistan!. Recall majour Non NATO ally~! Pakistan has to stand on it's own feet or we willeconomically collapse like mother Russia did in 1990s
The only solution to all problems is start a war with India. The whole Pakistan will get united and start becoming more mature. Starting with the President.
yes, in surrender to terrorists.
Taliban Republic of Pakistan is on its way. Shias like me will soon be extinct.
President terms Very Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) of Pakistan, Britain as a milestone in bilateral relationship.
"Pakistan to pursue War on Terror to its 'logical end': Zardari"
Sir logic is a double edged weapon!
Pakistans biggest problem is the lame old Foreign office whose people are almost too diplomatic and spineless. They can never be bold and even cannot stand up to Afghanis...
But our biggest problem is Zardari, he has zero credibility and because of him, Pakistan has zero credibility.
Our nation deserves all the hell it gets because we elect useless leaders. Where is our Liaqat Ali Khan? where is our Jinnah?
Same old worn and useless lines by the small minded FO spokespersons, logical conclusion is that no one believes Pakistan because of only one man... Zardari. This klepto along with entire posse be hanged by ordinary people along street lamp posts. This is the only realistic cure left now.
Pakistan has to talk the talk and walk the walk. Where is the action and truth against the terrorists?
@Cautious: Coming from an Indian whose nation is responsible for much of the terrorism and instability both directly and through your lackeys in Afghanistan, your words only reveal the real nature of your people. Sorry to see you remain so obsessed with Pakistan in India.
The President said added that Pakistan deserved and expected recognition by the international community. . Pakistan gets a lot of recognition by the international community - all the recognition has given Pakistan a terrible reputation. Your allies don't trust you - your widely viewed as the Nexus of Terrorism - you provide de facto sanctuary to terrorist - you got caught hiding OBL - you misuse international contributions - you use terrorist as "strategic assets", have ceded control of half your country to the Taliban - you make lots of speeches about the "war on terror" yet most can't recall the last time Pakistan put together a major military campaign.
People of Pakistan are "demanding strategic depth or strategic death." They are ready to sacrifice everything for strategic depth.