President conveys concerns over screening steps

ISLAMABAD Flanked by civil and military leadership, President Asif Ali Zardari conveyed Pakistans reservations on new screening measures and drone attacks to visiting US National Security Advisor, General James Jones on Thursday.
According to Presidential Spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, the meeting discussed security situation in the region, drone attacks, fight against militancy, rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons, strengthening of the law enforcement agencies, coalition support funds arrears, the new US screening procedures and Pakistans energy needs.
He said the President pointed out delays in payments of arrears of Coalition Support Fund of over 1.5 billion dollars and called for early repayments of outstanding dues. The President also expressed reservations over the new screening measures for Pakistani nationals and called for its review as it had created resentment in the country and led to doubts and misgivings among the people of Pakistan.
About the drone attacks on Pakistani territory, the President said that it undermined the national consensus against the war against militancy and reiterated Pakistans call for transfer of done technology to it for use by its own security forces against the militants for wider public acceptability.
James Jones was accompanied with the US Ambassador, Anne W. Petterson and other senior US officials.
On the Pakistan side those who attended the meeting included Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, Foreign Secretary, Salman Bashir and Pakistans Ambassador in the US Hussain Haqqani.