Pak needs 'unconditional support' to fight terror: Prez to US

Pakistan is fighting terrorism for its own survival and will not succumb to any pressure from militants, President Asif Ali Zardari told two key US envoys as he sought "unconditional support" in fields like training and provision of equipment to defeat al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Pakistan is fighting terrorism for its own survival and will not succumb to any pressure from militants, President Asif Ali Zardari told two key US envoys as he sought "unconditional support" in fields like training and provision of equipment to defeat al-Qaeda and Taliban.

HT Image

Pakistan is "fighting a battle for its own survival," Zardari told US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a meeting late last night.Besides the regional security situation, the US officials, who arrived here after a two-day visit to Afghanistan, discussed with Zardari the Afghan-Pak strategy announced by President Barack Obama recently and a surge in militancy and extremism in the region.

Zardari said the Pakistan government will "not succumb to any pressure by militants" though the process of dialogue should be initiated "with those who lay down their arms and do not challenge the writ of the government".The Pakistan President said the military action "is only one aspect of the solution."

Pakistan is committed to eliminating extremism from society, for which it needs unconditional support from the international community in training and provision of equipment for fighting terrorism, education and health, he said