Coalition should stay: US Senator

ISLAMABAD - Reiterating Pakistan's firm resolve to fight terrorism Monday and stressed the importance of a comprehensive strategy based on security, political and socio-economic development to counter the threat.

Talking to US Senator Russ Feingold here at President's Camp Office, he called for broadening and deepening of bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest.

The President underscored the importance of vibrant relations between Pakistan and the United States of America, particularly with regard to the commonality of views between the two, on broad range of issues.

Senator Russ Feingold, a Democrat from Wisconsin, serves on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, appreciated Pakistan's pivotal role in fighting terrorism and promotion of regional stability. He termed Pakistan-US relations extremely important and noted the importance of a multi-pronged approach to deal with the threat.

He discussed with the President bilateral relations, recent political developments and counter terrorism related issues.

The Senator also emphasized the significance of strengthened security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Later US Senator Russ Feingold along with US Ambassador to Pakistan Ms Anne W Patterson called on the Prime Minister and discussed with him the bilateral relations with special focus on the role being played by Pakistan in the ongoing war on terror.

While reiterating government's resolve to fight terrorism and extremism, the Prime Minister said that a multi-pronged strategy was evolved to confront the issue effectively as this is in Pakistan's own interest.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to address the root causes of terrorism, which stem from socio-economic disparity and unresolved political disputes. He said Pakistan was consistently fighting this menace and had sacrificed a lot in this regard, including the assassination of its leader Benazir Bhutto.

The Prime Minister said that dialogue and economic empowerment of the people in FATA was the key to addressing the issue of extremism in that region. He expressed the confidence that initiatives being undertaken in these areas would help increase economic activity as well as creating economic opportunities for improving the standard of living of the people. He called upon the need for expediting the legislation process in the US Congress for the early establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in the areas bordering Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan accorded high priority to its strategic relationship with the US. Pakistan, he added, was eager to enhance cooperation in the fields of defence, education, health, energy and science and technology. He also called upon the US to provide greater market access to Pakistani products in the US.

The Prime Minister said that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan was in the best interest of Pakistan and the region at large. He said that Pakistan believed that the international community should come forward and do more to accelerate the process of socio-economic development in Afghanistan.

While appreciating Pakistan's efforts in curtailing extremism and terrorism, Senator Russ Feingold said that the US and Pakistan had a long history of working together for ensuring regional and international peace. He said that the significance of Pakistan in the region could not be ignored and expressed the US desire to further develop a stable and multi-faceted relationship with Pakistan.

The Senator expressed the confidence that democracy would lead Pakistan towards progress and prosperity. He said that the US Senate would be pleased to work with the new government and extend all possible support for the economic development of Pakistan.

Agencies add: Visiting US Senator Russell Feingold on Monday met PML-N Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan at the Punjab House and discussed issues relating to war on terrorism, Kashmir, judiciary, national and international matters.

During the meeting they discussed Pakistan-US relations, a PML-N Press release said, adding that US diplomat Peter Bodey also attended the talks.

Ch Nisar told the American Senator that problem of militancy and terrorism needed to be addressed through dialogue as use of force alone had not produced desired results.

Reiterating PML-N stance on restoration of the pre-emergency judiciary, he said that until this was done the party would not resume its slots in the Federal Cabinet.

The Press release cited the US Senator as saying during the meeting that judiciary should be restored if the people of the country wanted this.

The Senator told the PML-N leader that the US wanted to strengthen relations with all political parties at the parliamentary level.

Senator Feingold said it was in the interest of the world community that the coalition of PPP and PML-N stayed together.

Commenting on Kashmir issue, he said, no progress was made in the recent round of peace talks between foreign ministers of Pakistan and India to resolve this longstanding dispute due to rigid stance of New Delhi.

Pakistan wanted Kashmir solution which was acceptable to Kashmiris, he said.

Expressing his views over judiciary crisis in Pakistan, he said, genuine democracy sans independent judiciary was not possible in the country. Not only the PML-N but also sixteen million people of the country wanted reinstatement of deposed judges, he said.

He told the Senator that US anti-sentiments in Pakistan existed because of US support to the unconstitutional steps of an individual and also due to its anti-Islam policies, sources said.

They were political people and believed in democracy and the US should support them and should not strengthen an individual, he remarked.