US acknowledges Pakistan political stability

US: The United States Wednesday acknowledged the Pakistani democratic leadership’s efforts towards fostering national anti-terror resolve, with its special representative for the region Richard Holbrooke also noting political stability and economic recovery in the country following recent constitutional and economic decisions.

Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Holbrooke highlighted improvement in US-Pakistan ties and reaffirmed the Obama Administration’s commitment to strategic ties with the country, which he said is pivotal to peace and security in the region. Washington, he said, stands for enhancing stability in Pakistan, supporting Pakistan’s offensive against extremists who threaten Pakistan and the United States and encouraging a closer relationship between Islamabad and Kabul.

Holbrooke paid tribue to Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorists. “We cannot forget that the Pakistani people and armed forces have made huge sacrifices as part of this fight. In the past month alone, scores of innocent Pakistanis have been killed or wounded in suicide attacks. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis have also had their lives upended.”

The special representative said the US is the biggest assistance provider of Pakistan and sought the American senators’ support for the preferential trade initiative of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones.

He said the Obama Administration recognizes that Pakistan’s and Afghanistan’s futures are intertwined and has consulted closely with both governments on its strategy in the region. “Through the trilateral process, we have facilitated a significant thaw in relations between Islamabad and Kabul and encouraged progress on regional economic integration. There is not yet strategic symmetry on all topics, but the thawing of differences should create additional opportunities as our regional diplomacy and political strategy develops.”

“Significantly, Pakistan’s leaders now publicly acknowledge the cross-border nature of the extremist threat and that Afghan stability is in Pakistan’s interest.

Meanwhile, we have also welcomed the resumption of more frequent high-level dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad, which should benefit regional stability.”

He said the US goal in Afghanistan-Pakistan region is to disrupt and dismantle al-Qaeda and prevent the militant organization’s return to both countries.

WASHINGTON, Thursday, APP