Pakistan has spent $80b fighting militants: President Zardari

Zardari cites drug trafficking as the financial source of militancy.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari , in his inaugural address to the 6^th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) conference in Islamabad, stated that Pakistan has been the victim of terrorism for far too long, having spent nearly $80 billion on the constant battle against militant groups.

Zardari cited drug trafficking as the financial source of militancy.

He called upon the Saarc countries to assist Pakistan in the fight against heroin and other drugs being smuggled into the country.

“Heroin was developed as a war weapon,” said Zardari in his address.

The president also called on the Saarc countries to help promote democracy in the region.

Improvement of Pakistan-India relations

The president met with Meira Kumar, speaker of Indian Lok Sabha - lower house of the Parliament, who called on him after the inauguration on Sunday.

Briefing about the meeting, spokesperson to the president Senator Farhatullah Babar said that matters regarding further promoting Saarc role in various fields, increased contacts of parliamentarians, regional issues and Pakistan-India bilateral relations were discussed during the meeting.

Zardari said that Pakistan was committed to a constructive, sustained and result oriented process of engagement with India and reiterated his call for the two countries to make determined efforts for friendly, cooperative and good neighbourly relations. He expressed satisfaction that the resumed dialogues between the two countries are progressing.

The president further said that Pakistan was keen to promote greater interaction between the parliamentarians from both countries and noted that high level visits have significantly improved the atmosphere between the two countries.

He expressed hope that bilateral parliamentary exchanges will continue in the future, which he said would help promote people to people contacts besides building mutual trust and understanding.  He said the South Asia region has enormous potential and cooperation between the two countries was imperative to exploit this potential.

The president recalled his recent two meetings with the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, one on the sidelines of 16th Summit of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) at Tehran and second in New Delhi during his visit to Ajmer Sharif. He said that he was deeply touched by the warm hospitality extended to him at New Delhi and Ajmer Sharif. The president also recalled his meeting with ex-Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi during the 4th Saarc Summit held in Islamabad in December, 1988.

Kumar thanked Zardari for the meeting and conveyed best wishes of the Indian leadership and people for the government and the people of Pakistan. She said that her country desired good friendly relations with Pakistan and wanted to work together in coping with the common challenges and issues.

The spokesperson said that Kumar lauded Zardari for his visionary leadership and sagacity in nourishing democracy in the country.

Greater participation of women in SAARC

Agendas for the Saarc’s female parliamentarians’ stability and economic development in the region were finalised at the conference.

Dr Fehmida Mirza chaired a meeting in which a joint statement was finalized and it was agreed upon that the expansion of the Saarc platform would allow women to play a greater role in the association.

Saarc speakers and parliamentarians visited the Parliament House in Islamabad and have declared Dr Mirza as the chairperson of the 6th Saarc conference.

The vice chairperson has been selected as a representative from Maldives, where the speakers have agreed upon to hold the next annual Saarc conference.