LAHORE, Feb 12: Criticising America’s drone attacks in tribal areas, leaders of the PML-N and PML-Q during separate meetings with Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke here on Thursday called for winning the hearts and minds of tribesmen.

Mr Holbrooke met PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif at his residence in the morning.According to a PML-N official, the US envoy sought Mr Sharif’s help in framing a strategy for solving regional problems.

“We want to include regional powers, including Iran, in the process aimed at ensuring a lasting peace in the region,” the official quoted Mr Holbrooke as saying.

Mr Holbrooke admitted that Pakistan was facing problems because of US policies in the aftermath of 9/11 and sought Mr Sharif’s opinion for devising a policy to correct the situation, the official added.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Sharif said he had seen a major change in US policy about the region under the administration of President Barrack Obama.

“The Democrats have taken a start from the level of friendship I had developed with (former US president) Bill Clinton,” he said, adding that it had provided an opportunity to the two countries to improve their relations.

Mr Sharif said he had discussed with Mr Holbrooke issues of national importance, including drone attacks, and expressed his party’s concern over the situation in tribal areas and Swat because of wrong policies.

“The US diplomat has been told that there is a need to win hearts of people, instead of using brute force in tribal areas.”

The PML-N leader said he had been supporting talks with moderate militants.

Referring to the registration of FIR against people allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks, he criticised the government for not taking him into confidence on the issue. “It would serve no good,” he said, adding that such elements must be crushed.

Mr Holbrooke later met a PML-Q delegation comprising Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Mushahid Hussain, Pervaiz Elahi, Khursheed Kasuri and Amir Muqam, at the residence of US Consulate’s principal officer Bryan D Hunt.