Asif Ali President Ten PercentZardari
... sticky-fingered husband of the late Benazir Bhutto ...
on Thursday said relations between Pakistain and United States must not be transactional, and stressed for a long-term partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.
He was talking to Marc Grossman, US Special Representative for Pakistain and Afghanistan who called on him at the Presidency.
Briefing media about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that matters relating to Pak-US bilateral relations, regional security situation, emerging situation in Afghanistan and the fight against militancy were discussed during the meeting.
The president said Pakistain supports all efforts for regional peace, prosperity and connectivity, based on existing realities of the region.
He stressed on following the clearly defined, well-documented and mutually agreed terms of engagement between the two countries, which he said was necessary to avoid operational irritants that hamper the relationship.
He said no country had made greater contributions and sacrifices in fighting terrorism than Pakistain.
The President said Pakistain was committed to pursue fight against hard boyz till its logical conclusion. He said the enemies of peace would continue to sabotage grinding of the peace processor but "we should not let the non-state actors hold hostage the governments in the region."
The President also emphasized on socio-economic development and imparting education to the youth of the militancy-hit areas to permanently change the thug mindset and sought international community's support and cooperation in this regard.
Pakistain supports Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process, he said.
The President said Prof. Rabbani was a friend of Pakistain and an honest and serious interlocutor. He termed his liquidation as an attempt to sabotage the peace and reconciliation process.
He however, expressed surprise over the reaction in the wake of Prof. Rabbani's liquidation.
The President said, "Despite negative propaganda against Pakistain, we are committed to the regional peace and have decided to attend the forthcoming trilateral summit of Afghanistan, Pakistain and Turkey in Istanbul next month aimed at peace and stability in the region."
Grossman appreciated Pakistain's struggle against militancy. He also assured US governments continued support for peace and stability in the region.
US Ambassador in Islamabad Cameron P. Munter, Rear Admiral Philip Davidson, senior military advisor to ambassador Grossman and other bigwigs of the US embassy were present during the meeting.
Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Defence, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Federal Minister for Finance, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Rehman Malik
Pak politician, current Interior Minister under the Gilani administration. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. He later joined the Pak Peoples Party and was chief security officer to Bhutto. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Näwaz Shärif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men.
, Federal Minister for Interior, Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary and spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar also attended the meeting.