Talks with Pakistan Army on issue underway, US to give drone tech to Pakistan: Gates

Local Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

US defence secretary Robert Gates has said his country is considering providing drone technology to Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s demand for provision of drone technology to it has been accepted by the US and we are working together with Pakistan Army in this connection”, he said this while talking to a private TV channel here Thursday.

He told the matters related to expanding cooperation in defence fields were discussed with Pakistan military leadership. Partnership was also existing between Pakistan armed forces and US, he added. “We are considering to provide planes for intelligence surveillance and unmanned planes to Pakistan. Discussion was underway with Pakistan military leadership on technical matters in this regard”, he maintained. He was of the view pilotless planes had proved productive in Afghanistan and Iraq. To a question he said Pakistan, India and Afghanistan had a common enemy and it was terrorism. The terrorists were also the enemies of US, he said and stressed “we have to work together to eliminate them.

“During my visit I have urged India to exercise

restraint with reference to investigation into Mumbai attacks”. Terrorists were out to fuel tension between the two countries and it was in the knowledge of India as well, he indicated.

Responding to a question he said his country was fully aware of Pakistan apprehensions about Indian influence in Afghanistan but there was no substance in the reports that US and UK had awarded contract on India to train Afghan national army.

Pakistan hands over shopping list to US: President Asif Ali Zardari, while talking to visiting USA Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, has expressed his reservations over the new screening regime for Pakistani nationals saying that it had generated resentment in the country and called for its review.

The US Secretary of Defence Thursday called on President Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidency Thursday evening where he also had dinner with the President, besides meeting the PM, Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Security situation in the region, drone attacks, reimbursements of Coalition Support Fund arrears, fight against militancy, drug trafficking, the new US screening regime and strengthening of Pakistan’s law enforcing agencies were discussed in the meeting. Robber Gates was accompanied with the US Ambassador in Islamabad Anne W. Petterson and senior US official accompanying the Secretary. Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqui, Senator Sugjra Imam, Farahnaz Ispahani MNA and Secretaries Defence and Foreign Affairs besides other senior officials were also present in the meeting.

Briefing the media about the meeting Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah said that the President emphasized that the issue of arrears in Coalition Support Fund amounting to over 1.3 billion dollars be resolved at the earliest. President said that the economic cost of the war against terror amounting to US $ 35 billion for the last eight years had gravely impacted on Pakistan’s economy adversely and the amount under CSF had actually been spent by Pakistan that needed to be reimbursed urgently.

“Pakistan has been facing delays in payments of coalition support Fund claims”, the President informed the Defence Secretary and urged for timely reimbursement of arrears.

Reviewing the overall security situation the President welcomed US affirmation of commitment to Pakistan’s stability and security adding also, “it must be based on mutual respect and trust”, Farhatullah Babar said.

About the drone attacks on Pakistani territory the President said that it undermined the national consensus against the war on militancy and called for creating a mechanism whereby the drones were used by Pakistan’s security forces rather than by foreign troops which raised questions of sovereignty. It was critical that national consensus on war against militancy was not allowed to erode and anything that tended to weaken it was avoided, the President said.

Tha President said that when Pakistan’s national security forces employed high tech in the war it had no negative fallout. He said if our own security forces possessed drones it would be a more helpful high tech weapon of war than when it was used by foreign forces.

The President also called for strengthening law enforcing agencies and provision of necessary equipment for meeting the ends of fight against militancy.

The President also said that the people of Pakistan had suffered greatly in the fight against militancy and there was need for the international community to give our people the peace dividend by way of massive economic assistance and energy development. He said that democratic stability in Pakistan is contingent upon advancement of our development agenda and called upon the industrialized world to play a greater role. “Indeed Pakistan needs a Marshall Plan for strategic economic rehabilitation.”

The President said that a Marshal Plan was needed to overcome economic problems and called for the Friends of Democratic Pakistan to translate into practice the pledges of economic and financial support to Pakistan.

Farhatullah Babar said that the President also called for allowing greater market access to Pakistani goods in the U.S. and European markets.

President Zardari said that for the past over three decades the region had been turned into a theatre of war against the rival ideology by the international community which had turned Pakistan into a security driven state. This the President said had gravely impacted on its social, human and economic development on the one hand and sustained and nurtured militancy on the other.

If Pakistan’s progress had not been thus hampered the country today would not have been faced with economic woes it was faced with.

The international community that together had created these conditions now owed it to Pakistan and to itself to help rebuild the country, the President remarked.

In this context the President, and PM emphasized the need for early adoption of legislation in the US on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (RoZs) to give the needed relief to the tribal people in their search for economic well being and social and political stability to counter forces of extremism and militancy. The President said that the people of Pukhtoonkhwah and FATA were enterprising and if assisted the area and its people could be transformed into a bulwark against extremism.

Referring to the new Afghan strategy of the US the President said that Pakistan has legitimate interests in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and urged that US must remain sensitive to Pakistan’s core national interests and concerns. US actions should remain on the Afghan side of the border, he added.

President Zardari also underlined the need for controlling drugs which he said was serving as “a force multiplier” to the benefit of militants.

Robert Gates appreciated Pakistan’s role in the war against extremism and militancy and assured full support to Pakistan in fight against militancy as well as economic rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, along with President Asif Ali Zardari, also briefed the US luminary about Pakistan’s stance over America’s new policy regarding Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan handing over list of its defence and military needs to the US has demanded that latest weapon and helicopters should be provided for effective action against terrorists in tribal areas.

According to sources, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates along with his delegation met with Defence Minister Ch Ahmed Mukhtar in the Defence Ministry.

Matters related to Pak-US defence relations, war against terror, regional security situation arising out of drone attacks, strategic partnership and other matters of mutual interest.

After the meeting talking to Online the Defence Minister Ch Ahmed Mukhtar said that his meeting with his American counterpart was very constructive and he had told Robert Gates to stop discriminatory attitude towards Pakistan in acquiring civil nuclear technology and should treat Pakistan as strategic partner.

He said that during the meeting he also stressed on US to implement its long term promise of stabling Regional Economic Zones (ROZ) in tribal areas so that the negative image of US in war affected tribal areas could be eliminated.

He told that he apprised the US Defence Secretary of the negative impacts of the drone attacks and demanded its immediate end.

He told that the US delegation was told to stop India’s interference in Balochistan through Afghanistan. He also demanded release of Coalition Support Fund.

According to sources US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Pakistan is taking serious steps in war against terror and his country would fulfil the defence needs of the country for successes in war against terror.

He said Obama Administration is seriously considering Pakistan’s demands and the matter of strategic partnership would be reviewed.

Meanwhile, reiterating his strong stance to wipe off the menace of terrorism, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday again made it clear that Pakistan has given invaluable sacrifices urging US will enhance maximum cooperation to extend and strengthen Army’s Capabilities thick and thin.

Military sources say that Robert Gates met Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani at the GHQ on Thursday.

Host of issues came under discussion like Pak-US defence relations, overall security situation, drone attacks and other issues in depth.

Sources say that Army Chief stressed on strengthening defence and military relations and expressed his reservations on new Afghan policy.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates underlined that Pakistan has given invaluable sacrifices in war against terrorism.

US will enhance maximum cooperation to expand and strengthen Army’s Capabilities, he maintained.

US will keep on working with Pakistan to eliminate the menace of extremism tooth and nail besides urging that the war is meant to eliminate Al-Qaeda and Taliban, he emphasized.

Army Chief further added that it is the need that Confidence Building measures be enhanced between both the countries, Sources concluded.

Meanwhile, Robert Gates called on General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) at Joint Staff Headquarters.

According to ISPR the two held a wide ranging discussion on current security environment of the region, bilateral relations and other matters of mutual interest.

According to sources, a consensus was reached to promote close ties between the Pakistan and US armed forces.

While matters related to provision of F-16 jets to Pakistan and other defence equipments came under consideration and it was impressed on US to implement its promises with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Robert Gates has met ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shujja Pasha at General Headquarters (GHQ) Thursday.

Military sources told the meeting took place during the reception hosted by army chief Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani for US defence secretary.

The matters related to intelligence sharing on elimination of terrorism from tribal areas and border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan were discussed in the meeting. The prevailing level of interaction between the intelligence agencies of the two countries also came under discussion.

Iqbal Choudhry from Islamabad adds: Pakistan has asked the US to enter into civilian-nuclear energy cooperation with Pakistan and also to recognise it as a nuclear state.

This was conveyed to the visiting US Defence Secretary, Robert M Gates, by Federal Minister for Defence, Ch Ahmad Mukhtar, at a meeting held here on Thursday.

The Meeting focused on Pakistan’s role against the war on terror, its security and economic needs and also the Geo-strategic situation of the region with special reference to Afghanistan. The meeting emphasized the need to promote a long and durable strategic partnership based on mutual trust, respect and shared goals.

The Minister briefed the US Secretary Defence about the counter-terror efforts made by Pakistan. He said that Pakistan was committed to root out terrorism and extremism and has been playing and key role in this regard.

The US delegation lauded the sacrifices and contributions made by the security forces of Pakistan against terrorism and militancy. The Minister apprised the delegation about the security and economic needs of Pakistan, saying that the counter-terrorism capability of the Armed Forces of Pakistan needed to be strengthened as it was imperative to defeat and eradicate the terrorist and extremist elements.

The US Secretary Defence indicated that his country would continue its security assistance programme through Foreign Military Fund (FMF) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Pakistan’s Counter Insurgency Capability Fund.

The Minister emphasized to expedite the process of reimbursement of Coalition Support Fund which is overdue since May 2008. The US side responded they would positively consider Pakistan’s request to expedite and simplify the procedure.

Mukhtar sought US support in energy sector to assist Pakistan and meeting its energy requirements. He also stressed the need to expedite work on setting up of Reconstruction and opportunity zones in tribal areas which would help in bringing economic and social development in the affected areas.

The Minister also exchange views on situation in Afghanistan. The Minister informed his US counter-part that Pakistan wanted to see durable peace and stability in Afghanistan because a peaceful and stable Afghanistan in not only in the interest of Pakistan but of entire region.

He said that Pakistan wanted to train Afghan National Army. Referring to the regional approach being adopted by United States, the Minister emphasized to have enhanced role in bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The minister also expressed concerns over the growing influence of India in Afghanistan which is causing instability in Pakistan particularly in Balochistan and tribal areas.

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