Pakistan asks U.S. to consider its concerns

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday welcomed the United States initiative of taking Pakistan into confidence and seeking its input in its ongoing review of Afghan policy, the officialnews agency APP reported.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while talking with James Jones, U.S. National Security Advisor of President Barack Obama who called on him on Friday afternoon here at the PM House.
He also underlined that Pakistan's concerns on the possible effects of surge in U.S. forces in Afghanistan, particularly in the bordering province of Helmand and on crossing over of Afghan Taliban into Pakistan's territory, must be factored in the new policy.
Gilani called for regular consultations and coordination between the two sides in deployment of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, strengthening of the mechanism of border Coordination Centres, fencing of Pakistan-Afghan border, introduction of telemetric system for stemming the supply of weapons and drugs and stopping the cross over of undesirable elements from Afghanistan into Pakistan.
The Prime Minister recalled that the U.S. Secretary of State during her recent visit to Pakistan had agreed to the resumption of result-oriented strategic dialogue on the basis of roadmap provided by Pakistan and stated that the dialogue should be scheduled in the immediate future.
James Jones apprised the Prime Minister that he was sent to Islamabad by the U.S. President to assure Pakistan's leadership of his sincere intention to pursue a long term strategic partnership based on mutuality of interests and mutual respect.
The U.S. considered Pakistan as its most strategic ally and wanted to proceed on a new way forward through consultations and coordinations on every important bilateral issue particularly the ones related to the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency, he added.
He agreed with the Prime Minister that the new U.S. policy on Afghanistan should be formulated by taking into account the vital interests of Pakistan.
James Jones also called on Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardariin Presidency and Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters on Friday, conveyed a strong message of support from President Obama to Pakistan-U.S. strategic partnership, according to local TV channel reports.
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