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DUSHANBE: President Asif Ali Zardari said here on Sunday that parliamentary review of Pakistan-US relations was a manifestation of democracy taking roots in Pakistan and elected representatives taking ownership of one of the country's most important bilateral relationships.
“The effort has to be to work within the parameters set by parliament, and not to bypass it,” he said during a meeting with Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman.President's spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar quoted Mr Zardari as saying that his government wanted to revive relationship with the US on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interest and in the light of parliamentary review which would be completed soon.
The president stressed the need for greater transparency in the relationship and exploring options for increased market access through preferential tariff for Pakistan's exports to US markets.
He called for international efforts to curb the menace of drug trade which, according to him, was providing financial sustainability to militants. He said a large quantity of opiates entered Pakistan from across the border and urged the US and Nato forces to interdict the movement of drugs -- the financial source of militants.
President Zardari called for an end to drone strikes and said these violated Pakistan's sovereignty, were counter-productive and fuelled militancy because of civilian casualties. Pakistan, he said, believed that peace and stability in Pakistan depended on peace and stability in Afghanistan and that Pakistan would continue to fight militants till the logical end.
President Zardari said the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project should be seen as vital to solving Pakistan's energy problem and for its economic development.
Marc Grossman said the United States respected the parliamentary review of relationship and expressed the hope that the process would be completed soon and relations between the two countries would return to normal.
“It's our belief that we have many shared interests and common goals that we can act on together,” Mr Grossman said.
The two sides discussed regional stability and security, counter-terrorism cooperation and efforts to support the Afghan peace process.
Mr Grossman said Pakistan's recent call for insurgents to join an Afghan peace process was welcome and helpful. He recalled the sacrifices rendered by a large number Pakistanis in the fight against terrorism and extremism. Mr Grossman emphasised that the United States wanted an honest, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Pakistan and remained committed to continued engagement.
Mr Grossman was accompanied by Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter and other senior US officials. The Pakistan side included Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Farhatullah Babar, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Ambassador to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq and senior officials of the Foreign Office.—APP
