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Pak PM goes to US seeking economic and military aid
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday identified strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies and fast-tracking of economic and military aid and power generation as areas in which progress can be made in the next round of the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday identified strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies and fast-tracking of economic and military aid and power generation as areas in which progress can be made in the next round of the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue.
Gilani made the remarks during a meeting with US Ambassador Anne Patterson ahead of the fourth round of the Strategic Dialogue to be held in Washington on March 24.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will head the delegation. He has said the issue of strategic stability between Pakistan and India will be taken up.
Gilani expressed the hope that the parleys would be successful in achieving “concrete results and tangible goals set by both sides”.
He identified power generation, water conservation,
education, strengthening the capacity of Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies through training and provision of equipment and fast-tracking of economic assistance committed through the Kerry Lugar Act, Coalition Support Fund and foreign military funding as areas in which progress can be made by the two sides, a statement said.
Pakistan has been pressing the US to speed up the release of reimbursements for its expenses on the war on terror from the Coalition Support Fund. The issue has emerged as an irritant between the two countries.
Gilani said Pakistan will “adopt a realistic and pragmatic approach during the talks and would like to follow up on the discussions in Washington through concerted efforts by both sides”.
