ISLAMABAD, April 18: US ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday and exchanged views on the ongoing war on terror.

She explained to the prime minister her country’s position on the war and the issue of curbing extremism.

Mr Gilani reiterated his government’s resolve to fight terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations. He said a multi-pronged strategy was being evolved to confront the issue effectively.

Pakistan had been consistently fighting the menace of terror and had sacrificed a lot, the prime minister said, adding that PPP leader Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the cause.

He assured that the government would continue to pursue long- and short-term initiatives which include political, socio-economic as well as administrative measures to address the issue.

The ambassador praised Pakistans efforts in curbing extremism and terrorism and said that the US valued its relations with Pakistan and its people and wanted the relations to be stable and multi-faceted.

She assured the prime minister of complete support of the US administration for his government. She expressed confidence that democracy would lead Pakistan to progress and prosperity.

She said that the US administration would extend all possible help to Pakistan economic development and would support its efforts to cope with the food and energy crises.

She also reaffirmed her government’s invitation to the prime minister to visit the US and said that members of the Congress were keen to meet the prime minister and felt it was time to reinvigorate bilateral relations.

The prime minister said economic empowerment of the people in Fata was key to addressing the issue of extremism in the region, an official handout said.

Also on Friday, during a meeting with a delegation of the Asian Development Bank (ADP) led by Juan Miranda, the prime minister said that Pakistan greatly valued its partnership with development institutions, particularly the ADB.

The prime minister expressed the hope that the institutions would continue to help Pakistan in achieving its newly fixed priorities of overcoming the shortage of energy, water and food.

He said construction of dams and other projects, besides improving the general state of economy and increasing food production were some of the areas in which the ADB as a development partner could be of great help.

Mr Miranda assured ADB’s support to the newly elected democratic government.