The United States Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice Tuesday
hailed Pakistan as a "friend" and a "fierce fighter" in the war
against terrorism.
Rice, who called on Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf
at Aiwan-e-Sadr, told media persons that she held "excellent
discussions" on "broad and deep relationship" with Pakistan.
"The United States is a committed strong partner and a friend,"
she said at a joint press conference with Pakistani Foreign
Minister Khurshid Kasuri.
Her talks with Pakistan's top leadership, she added, covered
ongoing counter-terror cooperation and reviewed progress on
discussions for forging stronger cooperation in various fields
including energy, education, science and technology and economic
development.
Replying to a question, Rice said both Pakistan and Afghanistan
are fighting terrorism in a region, which has been difficult for
along time.
"We are trying to commit as strongly as we can to activities,
which make it awfully impossible for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to
operate on the border," she stated.
In response to another question, she said Washington is holding
fruitful discussions to deal with Pakistan's growing energy
requirements to support its economic growth.
Rice arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Her visit to Pakistan is at a time when ties between Islamabad
and Kabul have soured due to exchange of harsh statements and
allegations as well as counter allegations.
The Afghan government alleged that Taliban insurgents had
sanctuaries in Pakistan and that they were crossing into Afghan
territory from Pakistan.
(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2006)
