Hadley meets Musharraf: Pakistan seeks US support on Kashmir  
By Aziz Malik - Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Chief

RAWALPINDI: President Pervez Musharraf has urged the United States to lend its support to the efforts aimed at resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which is at the root of tension in South Asia.

The President was talking to US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley who called on him at the Camp Office.

The President underscored the importance of moving towards a settlement of the Kashmir dispute in the interest of durable peace and stability in the region.

General Pervez Musharraf expressed satisfaction over the excellent multifaceted cooperation between Pakistan and the United States and reiterated that Pakistan is committed to root out terrorism.

The US National Security Advisor appreciated Pakistan’s exemplary contribution in countering terrorism and taking measures to curb extremism.

He underlined Pakistan’s critical role in promoting regional peace and stability. He also lauded the support extended by Pakistan in the stabilisation and the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Mr Hadley praised the President for his initiatives to promote peace and stability in South Asia including the Pakistan-India peace process.

He conveyed to the President the greetings of President Bush and reaffirmed the commitment of his country to broadening and deepening of its strategic relationship with Pakistan over the long-term.

Meanwhile, in his meeting with Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri, Steve Hadley assured Pakistan that Washington will not leave Pakistan high and dry this time and will adhere to Bush Administration’s commitment to have a long-term strategic relationship with Islamabad.

In the meeting, which lasted over an hour, the Foreign Minister and the National Security Advisor held a comprehensive exchange of views on issues of bilateral, regional and international interest including the latest developments in Afghanistan following the recent elections there and progress in the composite dialogue process with India.

Mr Hadley reiterated US commitment to a long-term, strategic relationship with Pakistan and expressed satisfaction at the level of cooperation achieved in various fields between the two countries.

He also spoke about successful conduct of the Parliamentary elections in Afghanistan on September 18 and expressed thanks and appreciation for the arrangements made by Pakistan in helping to maintain peace and security during the polls.

Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri referred to the deployment of a large number of Pakistani troops on the Pak-Afghan border for that purpose.

Foreign Minister Kasuri said that a stable Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s own interest and further that stable conditions in Afghanistan will encourage more than three million Afghan refugees still in Pakistan to go back to Afghanistan.

Khurshid M Kasuri briefed in detail the US National Security Advisor about the ongoing composite dialogue process with India and expressed the hope that the dialogue process would lead to a solution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue acceptable, of course, to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and also to Pakistan and India.

APP adds: Addressing a press conference, Stephen J Hadley on Tuesday said that the United States would do whatever it could to assist and support President Musharraf’s agenda for Pakistan which he termed as “bold” one.

“President Musharraf has laid out bold agenda for the future of Pakistan and we want to do what we can to support and assist him in developing that agenda,” Hadley told newsmen at US Embassy at the conclusion of his two-day trip to Pakistan.

He said the conversation he had with Pakistani officials, reflected the long standing and close relationship between the two countries.

“One of the topics was to address how to broaden and deepen the existing strategic relationship to develop a long-term agenda that would be tailored to the needs and plans of Pakistan,” he said.

Talking about global war on against terror, he appreciated President Musharraf for the steps Pakistan has taken. “These have been the bold steps not without risk.”

Pakistan have made progress against Al-Qaeda and also increasingly against the Taliban, he said adding, “There is obviously more for both our countries to do and things that we cannot do. We talked a little bit what we can do together to enhance our progress in the war on terror.”

He said, he thanked President Pervez Musharraf for contributing towards strengthening the border with Afghanistan. This was important step because it increased the security under which the Afghan elections were conducted, he added.

US National Security Advisor emphasized the need for greater coordination between, Afghanistan, Pakistan and US troops operating in Afghanistan against terrorists.

“It is in the interest of Afghanistan, Pakistan and my country (US) to deal with the threat of Taliban operating at the borders. All three countries need to work together to do more,” he said.

He also emphasized the need for a “better” dialogue among Pakistan, Afghanistan and United States forces to ensure “we have a common understanding of the problem.”

About Pakistan’s proposal on fencing of the border with Afghanistan, Hadley said, obviously Pakistan and Afghanistan will have to work out this issue.

He further said that he was focussing on enhancing the cooperation and coordination between Pakistan, Afghanistan and US forces in Afghanistan because in any event that is going to be the key to dealing with the issue of Taliban and Al-Qaeda on the border.

Stephen J Hadley said that President George W Bush was anxious to meet President Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan and he would visit South Asia sometimes next year. He said, Bush had met President Musharraf several times already in the United States. “It is time for the President obviously to have that opportunity to do that here.” He said, US official would work with Pakistani official to finalize the schedule for the President Bush’s visit to Pakistan.●