By NNN-APP,
New York : President Asif Ali Zardari and President George W Bush discussed strengthening bilateral relationship here Tuesday, with the U.S.leader acknowledging Pakistan’s sovereignty and pledging continued support for the country in economic and security fields.
Bush welcomed the newly elected Pakistani leader at The Waldorf Asotria Hotel as they met on the sidelines of the 63rd UN General Assembly session.
At the outset, the US leader expressed a profound sense of grief over the loss of life in the weekend bombing on the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad.
“Pakistan is an ally, and I look forward to deepening our relationship. We’ll be discussing, of course, how to help spread prosperity. We want our friends around the world to be making a good living. We want there to be economic
prosperity and we can work together, and of course we’ll be talking about security,” Bush said in reference to economic cooperation and anti-terrorism efforts.
“And your words have been very strong about Pakistan’s sovereign right and sovereign duty to protect your country, and the United States wants to help,” he added.
Pakistan has been fighting extremism challenges from al-Qaeda and the Taliban fighters along its Afghan border but has strongly condemned and rejected the notion of Afghanistan-based US-led coalition forces carrying any strike into its territory.
In an interview beamed Monday President Zardari had expressed Pakistan’s commitment to curb terrorism but firmly opposed the notion of unilateral actions into Pakistani territory from across the Afghan border, stressing that only Pakistani forces had the right to take anti-terror actions on its soil.
In his opening remarks, Bush also recalled meeting with the children of Pakistani leader at Beijing Olympics this year and expressed his feelings at the loss of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto for the family.
“And it reminded me about the great suffering that they and you have been through with the loss of your beloved wife. And I thank you very much for staying involved in public service to honor her legacy.”
President Zardari thanked the U.S for its support for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan and was confident that Pakistan would be able to overcome problems confronting it.
“It’s been the help of all the friends around the world and we are thankful to the world for helping democracy,” Zardari said.
He emphasized that democracy is the answer to problems facing the Pakistani nation.
“And democracy is the answer. We will solve all the problems. We have a situation. We have issues. We’ve got problems. But we will solve them and we will rise to the occasion. That’s what my wife’s legacy is all about.
“That’s what democracy is all about, to take difficult decisions and do the right thing for the people of our country and our two great nations. We should come together in this hard time and we will share the burden and the responsibility with the world.”