President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday stressed the need for financial support from the United States and said that that the war against terrorism could not be won without the financial support of the US.
The president was speaking at a luncheon meeting hosted by him for a US congressional delegation at the Presidency. The delegation members discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation with the president.
The delegation comprised Representatives John F Tierney, George Miller, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Welch, Christopher Murphy and Ron Kind. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Adviser to the PM on Interior Rehman Malik, Finance Adviser Shaukat Tarin and US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson were also present in the meeting.
Sources said the president made it clear that handful of extremists couldn’t be allowed to take the country hostage. The president told the delegation that Pakistan had paid a very heavy price in terms of life and property after becoming a US ally in the war against terrorism.
Zardari pointed out to the delegation that the situation in Swat was not encouraging, but asserted: “We have the will and ability to fight out terrorists using the strategy of minimum collateral damage.”
Sources quoted the president as saying that the US must immediately stop drone attacks as they are proving counterproductive and Washington must safeguard the interests of Pakistan in the war on terrorism and stand by it through thick and thin.
He hoped that new US administration would endeavour to make relations with Pakistan stronger. He told the delegation he anticipated that President Barack Obama would take affirmative measures regarding Pakistan’s problems. The president said that Pakistan was moving swiftly in the war on terror, adding every one must play a positive and constructive role in eradicating the menace.
Online adds: Addressing the US congressmen, President Zardari further said that Pakistan would not spare the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage, adding that India would be informed regarding investigations in this regard. He said that blame game against Pakistan must be stopped now.