Pak-US friendship robust: Obama

US President-elect Barack Obama telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari in the wee hours of Saturday and told him that the friendship between Pakistan and the United States was durable and long-lasting, reports a private TV channel.
Stressing need for the promotion of democracy in Pakistan, Obama said Pakistan was an important country for the US and both countries would continue cooperation in the war against terrorism.
President Zardari also stressed on strong ties between the countries. He said the two nations had close friendly ties and they should be further strengthened.
Obama promised to work along with Pakistan and gave full assurance to Zardari for the promotion of democracy there.
Our Special Correspondent from New York adds: Obama said an international effort must be made to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
"Iran's development of a nuclear weapon, I believe is unacceptable," he said at his first televised news conference in Chicago since his election as President on Tuesday. "Iran's support of terrorist organisations, I think is something that has to cease," he said.
Obama said he would be reviewing a letter from Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, congratulating him on his election, and would "respond appropriately." But he said the US approach to Iran could not be done in a "knee-jerk" fashion. "I think we've got to think it through," he said.
The president-elect Obama focused on what he called "the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime", saying "we're going to have to act swiftly to resolve it."
However, Obama deferred to President George W Bush and his economic team, noting that the country has only one government and one president at a time.
He said the Congress needs to pass an economic stimulus measure either before or just after he takes office in January.
But, he said, "Immediately after I become president I will confront this economic crisis head-on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hardworking families, and restore growth and prosperity."