By our correspondent
LAHORE: PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday, stressed the need for establishing Pak-US ties on the basis of mutual trust.
He said that Pakistan had been an important ally of the US and the two countries had cooperated on many key global issues. The US secretary of state tried to do away PML-N leaders’ reservations over the Kerry-Lugar Law, saying the US realised the reservations of the people of Pakistan. “That was why the US government had issued an explanatory note on it,” she added.
She appreciated Pakistan government’s role in the war on terror, saying the US knew that Pakistan had suffered a lot economically. She said the objective behind the US aid was to strengthen Pakistan financially and help it in building its civil infrastructure.
She claimed that the US wanted democracy to strengthen in Pakistan. She clarified that they did not have any intention to question the integrity and solidarity of the country and hurt the feelings of its people through the Kerry-Lugar Law.
Nawaz was of the opinion that the people of Pakistan had reservations over some sections of the KLL and they were expecting that the US would amend such conditions. He urged Hillary Clinton to remove the reservations of the Pakistani people over the KLL.
He appreciated President Obama’s policy of dialogue and engagement with all countries, especially the Muslim world, which he believed would help foster understanding, reduce tension and facilitate resolution of regional and global issues.
President Obama, Nawaz recalled, had stressed during his election campaign that the US should work towards promoting normalisation of relationship between Pakistan and India and facilitating resolution of the Kashmir issue. This now needs to be given an official shape, he said, adding any US initiative towards achieving this objective would be welcomed by the people of Pakistan.
Nawaz also appreciated Clinton’s interest in encouraging American investment in Pakistan, especially in the power and energy sectors. Nawaz was accompanied by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali, Ishaq Dar and Khwaja Asif. Richard Holbrooke, Anne W Patterson and others accompanied the secretary of state.Online adds: The Rah-e-Nijat operation, the Kerry-Lugar Law, Pak-Us ties, the regional situation and other issues were discussed during Nawaz-Clinton meeting, sources told Online.
The former premier told Clinton that Pakistan was in a state of war and it was in dire need of help from the international community. The US would have to understand situation of the region, he said.
Demanding halt to the US drone strikes in the country’s tribal areas, Nawaz said, such strikes were causing negative impact on the government’s efforts in the war against terrorism. He said his party was fully supporting the government in the operation. He demanded of the US to transfer drone technology to Pakistan.
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