"9/11 Commission Act Bad For U.S./Pakistan Ties"

‘9/11 commission act bad for US-Pak ties’

* President Musharraf says no safe havens for terrorists here
* Says Indo-Pak talks must move forward on Kashmir

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...6-9-2007_pg7_1

9/15/2007

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday stated that Pakistan and the US were committed to building a broad-based, long-term relationship, but negative elements that placed conditions on cooperation, such as in the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act, must be avoided as they affected the relationship, APP reported.

Talking to a seven-member bi-partisan US Congressional delegation at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president said that Pakistan has reservations on the bill linking US aid to the war against terror, as it was unduly critical of Pakistan’s role in the war. “We have lost more than 1,000 soldiers in the war,” he said, Online reported.

The president stressed that the US and particularly the media needed to better understand Pakistan’s efforts in fighting extremism and terrorism. The president stated that there was no safe haven for terrorists in Pakistan and reiterated the resolve not to allow use of its territory by anyone for terrorist activity.

The president told the Congressional delegation — led by the minority leader in the House of Representatives Congressman John Andrew Boehner — of the four-pronged strategy being followed in FATA — with its military, political, administrative and development components. s.

He said that Pakistan was looking forward to positive movement on the Reconstruction of Opportunity Zones (ROZs), the FATA Development Plan and on increasing the capacity of the Frontier Constabulary (FC).

With regard to Afghanistan, the president highlighted the efforts being made by Pakistan to strengthen controls on the border and to address issues related to Afghan repatriation from refugee camps.

Regarding the Kashmir issue, the president said that Pakistan and India would have to move forward to peaceably resolve the lingering dispute.

If there were no developments in resolution of the Kashmir dispute then the confidence- building measures taken by Pakistan and India would be meaningless, he said.

The members of the Congressional delegation highlighted the importance that the US attached to its partnership with Pakistan and the desire to expand cooperation in diverse fields, APP reported.

They said there was a need for better mutual understanding and avoiding elements that could cause difficulties for the relationship.

Boehner said that he hoped that the bill linking aid with progress in hunting down terrorists would not hurt US ties with Pakistan, as anyone could see Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism, Online reported.

The members also expressed their support for the initiatives relating to ROZs, the FATA Development Plan, and FC capacity building, APP reported.

The Congressional delegation included Representatives John Andrew Boehner, Pat Tiberi, Peter Hoekstra, Tom Latham, Devin Nunes, Charles Wilson, and Peter King.

They serve on various committees of the House of Representatives, including the committees on intelligence, homeland security, appropriations, ways and means, financial services, and education and labour.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington Mahmud Ali Durrani were also present at the meeting.