Special Report: Pakistani Situation

    ISLAMABAD, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday asked the United States to provide the country with pilotless drones in fighting terrorism.

    "We have told U.S. that unmanned aircrafts should be provided to Pakistan to carry on drone hits," said Zardari in an interview with journalists in Islamabad.

    Zardari made the remarks on the same day when unidentified gunmen attacked a police training school in eastern Pakistan city of Lahore.

    Pakistan military and police ended the operation against the attack with four gunmen killed and others arrested, following eight-hour gun battle.

    Zardari's statement also came days after a new U.S. plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat Taliban and al-Qaeda.

    U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday said that al-Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the United States from the safe haven inside Pakistan.

    Obama said that Pakistan must be "stronger partner" in destroying al-Qaeda's safe haven. He said Pakistan would be provided assistance of 1.5 billion dollars each year for the next five years.

    Zardari, facing economic meltdown and rising violence at home, has expressed his welcome to the new U.S. strategy.