Pakistan's president hailed the Obama administration's new strategy against Al-Qaeda as a “positive change” and insisted Saturday that his country would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism. Asif Ali Zardari praised President Barack Obama's call for Congress to grant annual civilian aid of $1.5 billion to Pakistan. However, he gave little indication of any new measures against terrorism. “The US presidency's new approach represents a positive change. It is an endorsement of our call for economical, social uplifts as a means of fighting extremism,” Zardari said in a speech to Parliament. The revised policy unveiled by Obama on Friday says Pakistan must become a more willing partner in efforts to eliminate Al-Qaeda from its bases along the Afghan border in return for massive economic and military aid. Zardari said Pakistan will deal “firmly” with groups defying the state. With the aid of foreign donors, authorities are raising an elite 20,000-strong police force in each of the country's four provinces to counter terrorism, he said. However, he also hinted at Pakistan's opposition to US missile attacks against Al-Qaeda and Taleban targets in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border. Obama did not mention the strikes, apparently carried out by remotely piloted CIA aircraft, though US officials say they have killed several top al-Qaida figures and indicated they will continue. Islamabad argues that the strikes kill too many civilians, enflame already strong anti-American sentiment in Pakistan and undermine government efforts to isolate extremists. “The government will not allow the use of its soil for terrorist activities against any other country. We will also not allow anyone to violate our sovereignty,” Zardari said. Restoring power to Punjab In the speech to parliament Zardari also said he has moved to end the political crisis gripping the Punjab province. Zardari said his party would support the pick of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to lead the administration in Punjab province. “Pakistan People's Party will also support the candidate of PML-N, whoever he might be,” Zardari said. “We will sit in opposition but we will participate in all bills. We will not bring down the government of Punjab and we will finish the door to the horse-trading forever,” the president said. He said he hoped these acts of reconciliation would mean that he and Sharif could “still meet as friends.” Opinion polls show Sharif, the prime minister ousted by General Pervez Musharraf in a coup in 1999, has become Pakistan's most popular politician since returning from exile in late 2007. Sharif's popularity was linked to the uncompromising stand he took over Chaudhry, the judge Musharraf dismissed when he declared emergency rule in late 2007 to extend his presidency.
