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| Photo released by Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID) on Sept. 15, 2012, shows U.S. Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman (2nd L) meets with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (C) in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday condemned the anti-Islam film produced in the United States and expressed grave concern over the violence it triggered when he met with a senior U.S. official. (Xinhua Photo/PID) |
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and the United States Saturday called for a clearly defined strategic partnership to act jointly against terrorism and for regional peace.
The call was made during a series of talks between visiting U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman and top Pakistani leaders over the past two days.
Ambassador Grossman met President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Foreign Minister Khar, Foreign Secretary Jilani, Chief of Army Staff Kayani, members of parliament, and other government officials, statements issued by U.S. embassy and Pakistani official said.
The Prime Minister's Office said that Pervez Ashraf and the U.S. envoy discussed matters concerning bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan-U.S. relations are very important and his country values the United States as a major development partner, a PM office statement said.
"We have a shared objective in fighting terrorism and need to cooperate more to get rid of this menace in Pakistan," the prime minister said, adding Pakistan had suffered the most, both in human lives and material but this cannot weaken its resolve to fight terrorism and extremism.
"We have no other option but to fight it out so that we could have peace and tranquilly in the region."
Ambassador Grossman said that the United States believes that its relationship with Pakistan should be enduring, strategic and clearly defined.
"The United States and Pakistan should work together to identify shared interests and act on them jointly, for the benefit of both nations and the region," the U.S. embassy here said in a statement.
The United States is committed to building on recent achievements, such as the reopening of the NATO supply lines and the meeting of the Safe Passage Working Group held in Islamabad on Sept. 5. "The United States looks forward to welcoming Foreign Minister Khar to Washington and President Zardari to New York for the UN General Assembly, and looks forward to several bilateral working groups this fall."
Ambassador Grossman noted that each of these engagements is an opportunity to continue to identify shared interests and to discuss concrete actions the United States and Pakistan can take together on their r broad agenda.
He said the United States is committed to continue working on shared counterterrorism objectives; to increase market access and economic opportunity for Pakistan; and to support civilian democracy and civil society. Ambassador Grossman raised the case of Dr. Shakil Afridi, who has been arrested for helping the CIA to reach Osama bin laden.
Grossman said it is important that the United States and Pakistan cooperate closely to ensure that Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the region are more secure, stable and prosperous.
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