Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Washington round of Strategic Dialogue invigorated Pakistan-US ties: Kaira

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (APP): Pakistan was re-elected Monday to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the economic arm of the UN, for the third consecutive year, with Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon calling it a “fabulous victory”. “It’s a fabulous victory for Pakistan. It reflects the prestige Pakistan enjoys in the international community,” the top Pakistani diplomat told APP after Pakistan polled 149 votes in balloting at the 192-member General Assembly.

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (APP): Pakistan has a role to play in Afghan reconciliation process and a political element is important to resolving the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, according to a senior United States envoy. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke rejected the assertion that Pakistan army is opposed to Afghan reconciliation.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 25 (APP): Pakistan was re-elected Monday to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the economic arm of the UN, for the third consecutive year, with Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon calling it a “fabulous victory”. “It’s a fabulous victory for Pakistan. It reflects the prestige Pakistan enjoys in the international community,” the top Pakistani diplomat told APP after Pakistan polled 149 votes in balloting at the 192-member General Assembly.

LONDON, Oct 25 (APP)- Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, the former prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the People’s Muslim League (PML), underscored the need to resolve the Kashmir issue, which, he said, remained a flash point for a major conflagration not only in South Asia but for world at large.

LONDON, Oct 25 (APP)-The UK-based Association of Pakistani Lawyers on Monday condemned terrorist bomb attack at the shrine of “Baba Farid Ganj Shakkar” in Pakpattan and demanded a stern action against those outlawed elements in the state.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi hoped his beleaguered side is focused enough to counter a spirited South African team in the back-to-back Twenty20 matches starting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Pakistan’s recent tour to England was rocked by spot-fixing allegations which prompted a Scotland Yard investigation and the suspension of three of their players by the International Cricket Council, a private TV channel reported.

KARACHI, Oct. 25 (APP)- Former President International Cricket Council (ICC) Ehsan Mani is disgruntled over the conduct of the game’s ruling body in connection with Indian Test batsman Suresh Raina. Controversy hit the Indian cricket when a news report claimed that during the recent tour of Sri Lanka, Indian batsman Suresh Raina was seen in the company of a woman known to be an associate of a man allegedly linked to a bookmaker.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): President of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has said US $400,000 donation from international governing body of football (FIFA) vice president Chung Mong Joon will go a long way in helping Pakistani football stand back on its feet.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP): Top ranked tennis players have confirmed their participation in the 8th Subh-e-Nau (SN) National Clay Court Tennis Championship, starting from Wednesday at Pakistan Tennis Federation Complex Tennis Courts here.

WASHINGOTN, Oct 23 (APP):The latest round of Pakistan-US Strategic dialogue held here this week has imparted a new vigor to bilateral ties as the two countries made progress towards concrete cooperation in development areas and the top American leadership renewed its commitemnt to enduring partnership with Pakistan, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said.

“We set timelines for progress in a number of development and capacity-building areas for Pakistans - a $ 2.29 billion new security package was announced --- and the U.S. president’s reaffirmation of commitment to Pakistan has invigorated the process,” he said, wrapping up the three-day ministerial-level discussions.
Illustrating his point, Kaira said the third cabinet-level dialogue between Pakistan and the United States this year has been significant as it focused on achieving progress in development areas within specific timelines.
“The earlier discussions identified areas, where the US could help bolster capacity of Pakistani institutions, strengthen stability, enhance our capability in the fight against terror and step up the development process ---- these include economy, defense, food security, energy security, healthcare ---- so in this dialogue a number of projects have been approved and timelines set for progress.”
Kaira, who was part of the high-level Pakistani delegation, was citing cooperation in key energy, healthcare, agriculture, public outreach and economic development projects which the United States approved during the latest session of the dialogue. The dialogue seeks progress in 13 wide-ranging sectors identified by the two sides.
Besides, the information and broadcasting minister said the two sides also discussed US support for Islamabad’s flood recovery and reconstruction effort ahead in the flood zones, the issues of public diplomacy and outreach and mututual perceptions during delibrations by various working groups. The Minister said, as stated by top US officials, the two sides also discussed Pakistan’s quest for civilian nuclear technology cooperation from the United States as part of efforts to meet the country’s fast-expanding energy needs.
Kaira said the new security package - announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who co-chaired the plenary session with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi - is over and above the ongoing Kerry-Lugar economic development aid and other programs and marks a significant demonstration of close ties between the two countries.
On President Barack Obama’s expression of support for Pakistan, Kaira said the US leader clearly stated that he wants to see the strategic partnership move forward.
“He (Obama) pledged to visit Pakistan (next year) and invited the Pakistani president (Asif Ali Zardari) to Washington --- he (Obama) renewed his desire to strengthen and support democracy in Pakistan ---- he (Obama) called for stepping up the process of strategic partnership ----so this is now evident that this strategic dialogue and partnership constitute an ongoing process which means that all issues cannot be dealt with in a matter of just one day--- this represents a long-term partnership.”
Karia also referred to an issue of importance to Pakistanis living in the United States without proper documentation and said Washington has been requested to consider granting them temporary protected status in view of the flooding catastrophe, as provided under the American law. The US administration has assured the Pakistani side to look into the request for giving TPS to Pakistanis, Kaira said, expressing the hope for a positive outcome of the move.
“The US president’s expression of support has strengthened the bilateral cooperation process --- we believe there would be progress in all sectors in days to come--- this dialogue has added a new vitality to the bilateral process,” Kaira remarked.
Kaira said Pakistan stands to gain substantively from its partnership with the United States as it will help boost development process and stabilize the country and the region. “Naturally, the United States is interested in stability of the region,” he said with in answer to a question with reference to the fight against violent extremism.
However, Kaira underlined that Pakistan benefits directly from this partnership with United States in areas of economy as the American cooperation helps lay the basis of development for the country.

Islamabad, Pakistan

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