of 200 million dollars in aid for the affectees of the ongoing
operation in Malakand division.
US special envoy to Pakistan Richard Holbrooke announced this while
talking to media along with President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign
Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi here in the Presidency.
On the occasion Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi thanked the US
for providing 110 million dollars in aid to Pakistan, saying Pakistan
was appreciative of this US gesture.
The FM said the present democratic government made sincere efforts to
build national consensus and a way forward to fight against militancy.
President Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan is committed to defend
its territory from the militants.
"We are committed to defend and wherever there is threat we will
follow it," President said in response to a question about military
action in Waziristan and other areas.
Replying to a question about winning the war against militants,
President Zardari said anything to say in this regard is too soon.
"We have war of ideology to fight. We have a war where we have hearts
and minds to win. Once we have won hearts and minds of the people of
the region, then I will say that we have progressed," he added.
Richard Holbrooke assured that US will provide additional assistance
to the government of Pakistan in its moments of need.
He said 10 days ago the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton had
announced 110 million aid for Pakistan and now US president Barack
Obama has sought an extra aid of 200 million dollars from the
Congress. Hopefully the Congress will accede to it, he added.
Ambassador Holbrooke said that reconstruction phase will be very
important and very critical and assured full American help and support
in this phase.
"I hope people of Pakistan will understand our country's leading role
in responding quickly in this need of hour. President Obama is
personally involved in it as US really cares about Pakistan," he
added.
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