Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan has
been paying the heaviest price in the war against terrorism and it was
determined to pursue the struggle till its logical conclusion. Our
sacrifices, the President said, exceed any other nation and that
Pakistan deserved and expected recognition by the international
community.
This he said during his meeting with Mr. Douglas Alexander, Shadow Foreign Secretary of UK here at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Douglas
Alexander was accompanied by Mr. Adam Thomson, UK High Commissioner,
Mr. Tom Price, Senior Advisor and Mr. Jasper Thornton.
Pak side
included Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Federal Minister for Finance, Mr. M.
Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Foreign Secretary
Salman Bashir and Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar.
Briefing
about the meeting Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar
said that Pak-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue, war against militants,
recent floods, UK assistance and regional situation was discussed
during the meeting.
The President termed the Enhanced Strategic
Dialogue (ESD) of the two countries as a milestone in bilateral
relationship that aims at intensifying mutual interactions in the realm
of security, trade, health and other sectors including education. He
said that enhanced and regular interactions as envisaged by the
Dialogue would help to maintain momentum in the relationship and in
convergence of point of views on important issues concerning the two
states.
The President also stressed the need for further enhancing economic cooperation.
The
President said that Pakistan was passing through one of the difficult
phase when its economy was under great stress due to recent jolt to it
by yet another devastating floods. The President said that an economy
already bearing the burnt of war and last year’s natural calamity has
once again been hit by rains and floods where around 08 million people
have been affected.
The President said that Pakistan looks
forward to continued international support in trade and enhanced market
access for its products in the European Union. He also appreciated UK’s
support at the FoDP platform.
The President reiterated that
poverty, lack of opportunities and sense of deprivation were among the
main causes that contribute towards militant mindset. He said that in
order to find a permanent solution to these problems the international
community needs to assist all those who were struggling to overcome
these root causes that breed militant mindset.
The President
said that a nation who has been worst hit by the scourge of militancy
and militant mindset expects recognition of its countless sacrifices,
both in human and material terms. All we ask from the international
community is to facilitate our trade and help us creating economic
opportunities for the youth and wean them away from militants, the
President continued.
The President said that Pakistan wishes to
have friendly and peaceful relations with all the countries based on
equality and mutual respect. He said that we would continue with our
efforts to support every development that contributes towards peace,
prosperity and stability of the region.
Douglas Alexander
expressed sympathies over the devastation caused by the recent floods.
He said there was general appreciation for the sacrifices made by the
people of Pakistan in the ongoing war against terror and expressed the
hope that the international community would assist Government of
Pakistan in the capacity building of its institutions as well as in
exploring trade opportunities and better access to the market for its
products. Online
