Zeenews Bureau
Islamabad: Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday assured Islamabad of Washington’s unconditional support in combating terrorism. Hillary’s visit comes on a day when Peshawar was rocked by a massive car bomb that killed at least 80 people and rendered hundreds seriously injured.
Hillary, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, said, “We will resume and reinforce strategic dialogue with the government of Pakistan on various issues of concern for both the nation.”
“We are turning a page on what has been in the last several years primarily a security anti-terrorist agenda. It remains a very high priority. But we also recognise that it`s imperative that we broaden our engagement with Pakistan," she added, pledging that the United States wanted to "strengthen democracy" and civilian institutions.
“We will help and provide all that is required to quell extremism in this region,” she added.
Addressing a joint press conference with her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmoud Qureshi, Hillary said, “We hope to build a strong relationship with Pakistan based on mutual understanding of each other’s concern. I am confident that if we listen to each other with patience, we will succeed.”
Stressing that the state of Pakistan was facing an unjust war unleashed by extremists, who were killing innocent peoples for malicious pleasure Hillary stated that Washington was looking forward to extending cooperation not just between the two governments but also between people to people for strengthening bilateral ties.
Hillary further expressed her deepest condolences on behalf of the US administration to the people of Pakistan for having faced enormous loss of lives and properties mainly due to unwanted war.
However, she assured by saying “We want to move shoulders to shoulders with the people of Pakistan; we want to help and provide necessary support to you in achieving your goals.”
“Security of Pakistan is a major concern for both Pakistan and the US administration and we need to clear some stereotypes and some misconceptions and take concrete measures to further strengthen bilateral cooperation on major issues.”
Clinton stressed that the Obama administration was committed to building a long-term relationship with the troubled country.
"Nine months is not a long period of time to turn around a relationship that has a lot of scars," Clinton told reporters.
"It`s fair to say that we have really increased the level of conversation and sharing of information over nine months," Clinton said.
While asserting that Washington had a high degree of confidence that Pakistan`s nuclear weapons were safe, Clinton said Washington was worried about proliferation of nuclear weapons.
She also shifted her focus from terrorism to other issues where Pakistan can benefit itself with the direct financial help from the US.
“We have had a very meaningful dialogue with the Pakistani side on a wide range of issues including easy access to market, resolving 0energy crisis, employment generation and improving agriculture productive and national economy.”
Clinton said it was "important to recognise the high price the Pakistanis are paying" in the war on Islamist militancy and said the United States "admired" what the Pakistani military was doing in Waziristan.
The United States is keen to bolster the civilian government, whose relations with the powerful military have been fraught, following on from a massive 7.5 bilion dollar non-military aid package already signed into law.
"We will be making some announcements about some of the investments we are making with Pakistan on the civilian side," she added.
Pakistanis want good jobs, to improve their incomes, to secure reliable sources of energy, education and healthcare, she said.
"They (the military) are extraordinarily committed and we have to support them the way we can," said Clinton, who is expected to meet some of the more than 200,000 people who have been displaced by the latest offensive.
During her three-day visit, she is due to hold talks with the political and military leadership, meet those displaced by the conflict in Waziristan, the political opposition and reach out to civil society to improve the US image.
"We`re trying to reach more broadly into the society," she said in a bid to reverse "misconceptions" about the United States in Pakistan.
Clinton is the most senior US official to visit the nuclear-armed Muslim state since US President Barack Obama put Pakistan at the heart of the fight against al-Qaida and made the war in neighbouring Afghanistan a top priority.
Her arrival comes at a critical juncture for Pakistan, where a rising number of audacious attacks has shown al-Qaida and Taliban-linked extremists can target anyone at anytime, and with the military pressing a major offensive.
