Geo Pakistan May 28

Pak, US agree to work together against high value target

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and United States have agreed to work together in any future actions against high value targets in Pakistan. Both the countries also agreed to enhance bilateral ties, recommence the preparatory work for the strategic partnership dialogue process. President Zardari and Secretary Clinton in a one-on-one meeting that lasted for half-an-hour at the President House, discussed the issues of security, terrorism and extremism that were hampering the regional peace. Briefing the newsmen, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said the issues of regional stability and security including countering terrorism and peace in Afghanistan were discussed in a meeting. He said the President made clear the will of the people and prevailing public sentiment on the issues of national sovereignty, security and Pakistan's national interests in line with the unanimous Resolution recently adopted by the joint sitting of the Parliament. Both sides reaffirmed the imperatives of the Pakistan-US relations and the need for forging durable partnership on the basis of "mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual benefit". Secretary Clinton stated that a secure, stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan was in the US national interest and a critical factor in regional stability and peace. Hillary Clinton said the United States recognized the difficult political and military challenges faced by Pakistan and that she had come to reiterate the value of mutual relations. She said President Obama had repeatedly demonstrated commitment to long term partnership and that there was no room for misunderstanding and misperception. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, Director General Inter Services Intelligence Agency General Shuja Pasha, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir joined the delegation-level talks. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and US ambassador in Pakistan Cameron Munter represented their country.