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| Check infiltration from Afghan side, Petraeus told |
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday made it clear to the US that as Pakistan was engaged in military action against the militants in South Waziristan, infiltrations from Afghanistan into Pakistan should be checked by the US and Nato forces. The prime minister was talking to General David Petraeus, Commander US Central Command, who called on him at the PM House.
The prime minister also urged the US to expedite the delayed payments of the Coalition Support Fund claims and Foreign Military Funds (FMF) to Pakistan at this critical juncture when the Government of Pakistan was engaged in the military action in South Waziristan.
He also called for the supply of the most needed equipment to the Pakistan’s armed forces. The prime minister said during the military operation in Malakand and now in South Waziristan, Pakistan was fighting on two fronts. “While it had won the war on military front in Malakand and was poised to strike a decisive blow to the terrorists and militants in South Waziristan, it is imperative to do more for the socio-economic development in the affected areas to address the root causes of terrorism and economic deprivation of the people in these areas,” he told the US general.
The prime minister said the successful operation in Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan has proved Pakistan’s firm resolve to root out the menace of terrorism from its soil. He nonetheless highlighted the need for the capacity building of the law-enforcement agencies by the US and other friends of Pakistan.
The prime minister also drew the attention of General Petraeus to the expected influx of dislocated persons from South Waziristan region, the number of which had already exceeded 100,000 and hoped that as in the case of Swat operation, assistance to Pakistan for providing relief and rehabilitation to the dislocated persons would continue unabated.
General Petraeus, while conveying his condolences and commiserations over the loss of lives and injuries sustained by many in the recent spate of terrorist incidents in Pakistan, lauded Pakistan’s resolve and determination to eliminate militants from its soil.
He commended the prime minister for his efforts to evolve political consensus on this vital issue and agreed with him that no war could be won without the complete and active support of the people.
He assured the prime minister that the remaining balance of the Coalition Support Fund and FMF payments would be released to Pakistan as soon as possible and welcomed the new mechanism of streamlining the process of lodging the claims, which was being put in place by the Government of Pakistan.
He said that the US would also stand by Pakistan as a strategic partner and expressed the hope that the misperceptions created in Pakistan about the Kerry-Lugar Bill would be put to rest by the joint explanatory statement issued by the Chairmen of Foreign Relations Committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. He said the ongoing defence cooperation will be strengthened between the two countries by fast tracking the supply of equipment required by the Pakistan’s armed forces.
He also undertook to convey to the US Government Pakistan’s keen desire to acquire the drone technology to take full ownership of action against the militants and terrorists in the Fata.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
