President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan valued a long term, multifaceted and durable relationship with the United States. The President was talking to U.S Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr Saturday. Holbrooke was accompanied by David Lipton Under Secretary of Treasury for international affairs and other senior US officials. From Pakistan side, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program Farzana Raja were also present in the meeting. Briefing the media, Spokesperson former Senator Farhatullah Babar said the President appreciated the role played recently by Ambassador Holbrooke in raising the issue of Pakistanis on board flotilla that was attacked in international waters by Israel. The President said that timely intervention by Holbrooke was a great help in ensuring the safety and securing the release of Pakistanis on board flotilla. Bilateral relations, security situation in the region, the shared terrorist threat, the U.S-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, according to a report of the Associated Press of Pakistan. Richard Holbrooke reiterated the United States' long-term commitment to the strategic partnership with Pakistan saying that the administration was conscious of the need for creating economic opportunity for the Pakistani people in their fight against militancy. He expressed determination to strengthen the ties between the two countries in all areas including trade, economic growth, and development. President Asif Ali Zardari said that militancy and terrorism was the common enemy and that the existing cooperation between the two countries must continue to fight the menace.
