ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday underlined the need for the strategic long term partnership between Pakistan and the United States to be based on mutual interest, respect and mutual trust.He hailed President Obama's affirmation of US commitment to Pakistan's stability, security and prosperity and said that democratic stability in Pakistan is contingent upon advancement of our development agenda for which US support is critical.
The President was talking to a US congressional delegation which led by Senator John McCain called on him here at the Presidency on Thursday afternoon.
The delegation besides Senator John McCain included Senator Joseph Liberman, Senator Johan Barrasso, Christian Brose, Foreign Policy Advisor, Vance Serchuk and Brooke Buchanan. US ambassador in Pakistan Ms Anne W. Patterson and senior officials of the US embassy were also present.
The Pakistani side comprised Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Secretary General to the President, M. Salman Faruqui, Ms Sughra Imam, Ms Farahnaz Ispahani and other high officials.
The President stressed the need for market access for Pakistani goods into the US and EU markets and asked the congressional delegation to play their role for early adoption ofROZs' legislation in the Congress which would usher in a new era of socio-economic development in areas affected by war against militancy.
The President while appreciating US assistance for Pakistan said that the assistance could be channeled through the government in accordance with our priorities and programs and ensured transparency, accountability and efficacy in terms of results.
The President said that the economic cost of the war against terror amounting to US $ 35 billion for the last eight years has almost paralyzed Pakistan's economy.
"Pakistan has been facing delays in payments of coalition support Fund claims", the President said and urged for timely reimbursement of over one billion dollars on account of CSF.
Referring to President Obama's new Afghan strategy the President said that Pakistan has legitimate interests in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and urged that US must remain sensitive to Pakistan's core national interests and concerns. US actions should remain on the Afghan side of the border, he added.
The President also pointed out that drone attacks on Pakistani territory undermined the national consensus against the war on militancy.
He urged the American delegation to persuade the US policymakers to give drone technology to Pakistan so that the militants could be targeted by Pakistan's national security forces themselves rather than by foreign troops which raised questions of sovereignty.
The delegation appreciated Pakistan's role in the war against extremism and militancy and assured full support in taking this war to the logical end.
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