The US Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke?s pro-Pak tilt is increasingly getting strident, despite his having rubbed Indian government the wrong way over the recent months.
The American strategy for the region will always be to the “advantage of Pakistan, which is a strategic partner of the US”, the Obama administration said today.
The message was conveyed to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani by US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, who telephoned the premier tonight to brief him on Obama’s unannounced visit to Kabul yesterday.
Holbrooke assured Gilani that “US strategy will always remain to the advantage of Pakistan, which is a strategic partner of the US”, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s House.
Obama’s visit to Afghanistan “was meant to express solidarity and strengthen determination of coalition partners to restore peace and stability in the region, Holbrooke said.
Holbrooke also told Gilani that he was the first leader with whom the US was sharing details of Obama’s trip to Kabul.
Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s “firm resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism and extremism in the larger interest of world peace”.
The premier was also told that Obama “greatly appreciated Pakistan’s commitment and contribution towards the war against terror”, the statement said.
Holbrooke said the recent Pakistan-US strategic dialogue was “quite fruitful” and had made a “positive impression” on the American political leadership. Follow-up meetings on the strategic dialogue will prove beneficial in determining the specific needs in various sectors of cooperation, he said.
Progress in the strategic dialogue will be personally monitored by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will visit Pakistan in the near future, the envoy said.
Pakistan’s need for energy will be paid specific attention to help boost economic activities. Pakistan-US relations extend beyond the war on terror, he said.
Gilani said he expected the coalition partners and friends of Pakistan to provide “unhindered support” in line with their commitments to curb terrorism and extremism.
The US has to exert its influence over coalition partners to honour their pledges made during the Tokyo Conference, he said. He also sought assistance in “softening” IMF conditions in view of “the capacity of the common man in Pakistan”.
Gilani also stressed the need to expand bilateral trade to ensure access for Pakistani goods in US markets.
The US will release one billion dollars to Pakistan by June under the Coalition Support Fund, Holbrooke said.
In a separate development, President Asif Ali Zardari called his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai tonight and discussed bilateral matters and the war against terrorism.