ID :
29203
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 23:01
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/29203
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Obama speaks to Zardari, vows support for democracy in Pak
Islamabad, Nov 8 (PTI) U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has pledged his full support to democracy in Pakistan and hoped the two countries would continue to work together to further enhance the bilateral ties.
Obama, the first Afro-American to be elected to the top post in the U.S., spoke to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari over telephone last night, the official APP news agency reported.
During the conversation, he hoped the two countries would
continue to work together to expand their bilateral relations.
He said the incoming U.S. administration favoured
friendly relations with Pakistan and wanted to see the
democratic leadership strengthen the country.
Zardari congratulated Obama on his success in the
November 4 election and said Pakistan and the U.S. are allies
and would maintain their close relationship.
Zardari also expressed the hope that bilateral ties would
be long-term and broad-based.
Meanwhile, Zardari is likely to meet Obama and Vice
President-elect Joe Biden during his trip to the U.S. next
week to attend an inter-faith conference.
A request for the meeting has been forwarded to the
president-elect's team, a source in the Foreign Office told
the Dawn newspaper.
Zardari will leave Islamabad on Tuesday to attend the
conference to be held in New York during November 13-14.
Zardari is scheduled to return to Pakistan on November 14 but
he might extend the visit by a day or two if the meeting with
Obama is scheduled.
Though Obama is preoccupied with transition arrangements,
the Foreign Office is hopeful of securing an appointment.
According to Zardari's initial itinerary, he was to visit only
New York, but he is now expected to travel to Washington and
Chicago to meet Obama and Biden.
Zardari is expected to use the opportunity to reiterate
Pakistan's resolve to deal with terrorism on its own. He may
also discuss the Kashmir issue with Obama, who had said he
will work with Pakistan and India to try to resolve the
problem.
Pakistan's worsening economic crisis and the Biden-Lugar
aid plan, which calls for USD 1.5 billion of annual
non-military spending to support the country's economic
development, might also be taken up by Zardari with the
American leaders.
Zardari awarded the Hilal-i-Pakistan medal, one of the
country's highest civilian honours, to Senators Biden and
Richard Lugar for their consistent support to the country,
last month. PTI
Obama, the first Afro-American to be elected to the top post in the U.S., spoke to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari over telephone last night, the official APP news agency reported.
During the conversation, he hoped the two countries would
continue to work together to expand their bilateral relations.
He said the incoming U.S. administration favoured
friendly relations with Pakistan and wanted to see the
democratic leadership strengthen the country.
Zardari congratulated Obama on his success in the
November 4 election and said Pakistan and the U.S. are allies
and would maintain their close relationship.
Zardari also expressed the hope that bilateral ties would
be long-term and broad-based.
Meanwhile, Zardari is likely to meet Obama and Vice
President-elect Joe Biden during his trip to the U.S. next
week to attend an inter-faith conference.
A request for the meeting has been forwarded to the
president-elect's team, a source in the Foreign Office told
the Dawn newspaper.
Zardari will leave Islamabad on Tuesday to attend the
conference to be held in New York during November 13-14.
Zardari is scheduled to return to Pakistan on November 14 but
he might extend the visit by a day or two if the meeting with
Obama is scheduled.
Though Obama is preoccupied with transition arrangements,
the Foreign Office is hopeful of securing an appointment.
According to Zardari's initial itinerary, he was to visit only
New York, but he is now expected to travel to Washington and
Chicago to meet Obama and Biden.
Zardari is expected to use the opportunity to reiterate
Pakistan's resolve to deal with terrorism on its own. He may
also discuss the Kashmir issue with Obama, who had said he
will work with Pakistan and India to try to resolve the
problem.
Pakistan's worsening economic crisis and the Biden-Lugar
aid plan, which calls for USD 1.5 billion of annual
non-military spending to support the country's economic
development, might also be taken up by Zardari with the
American leaders.
Zardari awarded the Hilal-i-Pakistan medal, one of the
country's highest civilian honours, to Senators Biden and
Richard Lugar for their consistent support to the country,
last month. PTI
