US assures funds for $2.5b IDPs' rehab plan

ISLAMABAD Acknowledging Islamabads effective actions against militants, the US assured Pakistan on Saturday that the entire coalition fighting war on terror would mobilise funds for the Governments $2.5 billion plan for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) rehabilitation. The high-ranking US official has assured President Asif Ali Zardari that the coalition under Washingtons leadership would not only support Pakistans efforts rehabbing war affected people and areas but also back the countrys economic revival, officials told TheNation. The US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke made these assurances at a meeting at Presidency that prolonged till dinner ahead of Secretary of State Hillary Clintons visit tentatively scheduled for July 21. Pakistan and the US sectoral talks are already underway since June 7 in Islamabad in follow-up of the Strategic Dialogue initiated in Washington earlier this year. According to the officials requesting anonymity, President Zardari made it clear that Pakistan was unable to continue the wars momentum unless its expenses were timely reimbursed and economic losses were compensated accordingly. It was the shared responsibility of the international community to help Pakistan overcome challenges of economy and assimilation of people that fell prey to the militant mindset, the officials quoted the President as saying. The administration was conscious of the need for creating economic opportunity for the Pakistani people in their fight against militancy, Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar quoted the Ambassador as telling the President. Babar also underlined the Ambassadors expression of the US determination to strengthen ties with Pakistan in all areas chiefly trade, economic growth, and development. Uttering words of appreciation for Pakistani sacrifices in war on terror, the Ambassador undertook that the US would provide all possible assistance in strengthening of democracy, security, and socio-economic development. According to the Ambassador, the US values Pakistans desire for peace and stability in the region. According to the spokesman, bilateral relations, security situation in the region, the shared terrorist threat, the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, reimbursements of Coalition Support Fund arrears, drug trafficking and strengthening of Pakistans law enforcing agencies were discussed in the meeting that also continued over the dinner hosted by the President. Pakistan valued a long-term, multifaceted and durable relationship with the US and, No isolated incident should be able to adversely impact on this relationship, the President said. The President said that the Pakistan had paid a heavy price in terms of both human and material losses in fighting militancy and that it looked forward to international assistance in meeting the challenges faced by it. He said that Pakistan needed trade and market access for its product in order to set its economy on the path of stability and prosperity. The President said that defeating the extremists on ground was one part of the battle and that complete success required changing the militant mindset through creation and provision of opportunities to the people. He hoped that the ROZs legislation would be expedited and counter productive labour provision be softened. The President also emphasised on early reimbursement of arrears of CSF of over 1.5 billion dollars, which was rising every month. Pakistan would welcome efforts for restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. The President said that Afghanistan had remained a war theatre for long and now it is time for the international community to have a synergy of efforts for restoration of peace, stability and prosperity of a war-torn country. Pakistan would complement the coalitions effort in this regard and would provide all assistance for capacity building of the Afghan institutions, the President maintained.

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