The official US delegation, headed by Senator Robert Menendez, met with President Asif Ali Zardari at his residence on Thursday. PHOTO: SANA
ISLAMABAD:
In a meeting with top US officials on Thursday, President Asif Ali Zardari termed drones to be “counter-productive” and stressed the need for the US to “find a way out” of the CIA-led drone campaign in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
The president, in a meeting with a delegation of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, headed by Chairman Senator Robert Menendez, said that the US’ policy of using unmanned aerial vehicles in tribal areas was generating anti-American sentiments among locals. He urged the Obama administration to find an alternative to its drone policy.
President Zardari also voiced concern over the regular cross-border attacks on Pakistani military and paramilitary troops. He said it was important that the world acknowledged the sacrifices made by the Pakistani military in the war against terrorism.
“Since relations between Pakistan and the US are multifaceted, it would not be proper to see them through one prism,” he said, according to a press release.
Spokesperson for the president Senator Farhatullah Babar said that a host of other issues were also discussed during the meeting, which took place in two rounds.
Expressing his satisfaction over a meeting of the working groups of the two countries on Counter Terrorism and Law Enforcement, Energy, Economy & Finance, Defence, and Security, Strategic Stability & Non-proliferation, the president stated that gains made in these meetings need be further consolidated and built upon.
Regarding the Daimer-Bhasha Dam project, President Zardari stated that work had already been initiated and also called for US and international assistance to help Pakistan cope with its energy crisis. “The dam held the promise of signature American investment in Pakistan and a visible long-term legacy of Pakistan-US bilateral cooperation,” Babar quoted the president as saying.
In reference to the war being fought in Afghanistan, the president reiterated Pakistan’s support to an Afghan-led peace process in Kabul as well as the transition of security responsibilities from Nato to the Afghan government by 2014.
Menendez appreciated the role played by Pakistan and the sacrifices made by its armed forces, security agencies and the people in fight against militancy.
The US delegation also included US Ambassador Richard Olson, while President Zardari was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, newly-appointed Finance Minister Saleem Mandviwalla and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt General Zaheerul Islam.
In a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Khar, Senator Menendez said the US Congress would continue to support democracy and assist the people of Pakistan in meeting their current challenges.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ