Pakistan needs drone technology, F-16s, Zardari tells US

LOS ANGELES: Former president Asif Ali Zardari has urged the US to provide drone technology and F-16 jets to Pakistan for use in the war against terrorism.

Zardari called on Senator John McCain and discussed the Pak-US relations. He said Pakistan was committed to rooting out terrorism and the US should provide it with drone technology and the F-16 jets. He said McCain had assured his full support for provision of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. 

In his meeting on Friday with the American senator, Zardari said Pakistani soldiers were sacrificing their lives in the war on terror. He also said Pakistan was affected by the menace of terrorism but the whole nation was committed to rooting out the menace.

Both McCain and Zardari agreed that democracy in Pakistan should be allowed to grow and thrive.  Zardari was also of the view that relations between Pakistan and the United States must further be strengthened.