By IRNA,
Islamabad : The United States supports Pakistan’s military offensive against militants in tribal regions and Swat valley in the northwest, a visiting top American diplomat said on Monday.
US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told a news conference after meetings with Pakistani leaders that there is a need for both political and military solutions to address the menace of terrorism.
“The people need to abandon violence, accept writ of the government and should not allow presence of foreign terrorists and Al-Qaeda elements to attack people, leadership and institutions”.
The US diplomat appreciated that people in tribal areas have stood against the presence of terrorist elements.
Responding to another question the US official said he was not here to talk about military operations.
“The United States has expressed its full support for Pakistan in tackling security and economic challenges”.
Boucher said he was very impressed by the determination of the Government to deal with those challenges and his country would extend cooperation in those regards.
He said the United States would also continue its multi-pronged strategy to help Pakistan modernize its army, other institutions, tribal regions and promote health, education and energy sectors.
Mr. Boucher acknowledged that Pakistan is facing acute energy problem and has a lot of potential to develop hydro, coal and other energy resources.
The United States would provide thirty million dollars for development of the energy sector in Pakistan, he said.
He said that Pakistan’s Government was determined to take tough decisions to restore fiscal stability and overcome other economic problems.
He pointed out that the United States had announced 110 million dollars to help Pakistan meet challenges in food and agriculture sector.
The US Assistant Secretary of State said his country would also provide assistance for displaced people of Bajaur so as to meet their food and shelter requirements.
Mr. Boucher said he held productive meetings with ambassadors of several countries about the forthcoming meeting of the ‘Friends of Pakistan’ forum in Abu Dhabi.
He said he found them supportive for Pakistan and hoped that in addition to a dozen states that attended the inaugural meeting of the forum, more would attend Abu Dhabi round.
To a question he said the forum is not about cash but a platform to extend strategic support to Pakistan in its plans to develop itself.
He said the United States was providing assistance to Pakistan to rebuild its capacity to fight terrorism and added that the programme for training of FC personnel by US military officials was just a cooperative effort like those in education and health.
He said the United States is cooperating with Pakistan and Afghanistan by way of training, equipment, coordination and information with a view to resolving the problem of insurgency and terrorism.
Boucher said that he held two meetings with President Asif Zardrai and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. He said one meeting with the President was in bilateral context and the other was about the meeting of the Friends of Pakistan.