03-29-2010, 02:01 PM
* FM says significant progress made on issue during US visit
* Americans to reconsider policy of body screening at US airports
LAHORE: Pakistan will soon hear “good news” about acquiring the US drone technology as significant progress was made on the issue during the visit of the country’s political and military leadership to America, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday.
Talking to journalists on his arrival after concluding his visit to the US at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, he said Pakistani political and military leaders had successfully pleaded the country’s case after doing extensive research regarding Islamabad’s national priorities, adding that the Americans did not present any new demands during
the talks.
“On every matter, the US response was much better than we had anticipated,” he said.
Qureshi said the US has hinted about the provision of a multi-layer security system for the country and that both delegations discussed the current economic situation in Pakistan, adding that Islamabad had requested easy-debt returning conditions for the country.
To a question about whether he had also discussed the matter of a civil nuclear deal with the US, he said that discussing “some matters are against national dignity”.
The foreign minister said that both the civilian and military leadership had presented Pakistan’s point of view with “one voice”.
Promise: He said the US had promised to reconsider its policy of screening Pakistani travellers at US airports. He said that a meeting between Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and an American think tank was “extremely successful”.
“Pakistan has talked about ‘trade not aid’ with the US and we have agreed on some things regarding the energy sector,” the foreign minister said.
Qureshi said the dialogue process would continue and its next phase would start in April, adding that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would visit Pakistan after the completion of the second phase of the dialogue.
“Several US delegations will also visit Pakistan for mutual cooperation in various fields,” the foreign minister said, adding that after Hillary’s visit, he would again go to the US for further developments, APP reported. staff report/app
* Americans to reconsider policy of body screening at US airports
LAHORE: Pakistan will soon hear “good news” about acquiring the US drone technology as significant progress was made on the issue during the visit of the country’s political and military leadership to America, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday.
Talking to journalists on his arrival after concluding his visit to the US at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, he said Pakistani political and military leaders had successfully pleaded the country’s case after doing extensive research regarding Islamabad’s national priorities, adding that the Americans did not present any new demands during
the talks.
“On every matter, the US response was much better than we had anticipated,” he said.
Qureshi said the US has hinted about the provision of a multi-layer security system for the country and that both delegations discussed the current economic situation in Pakistan, adding that Islamabad had requested easy-debt returning conditions for the country.
To a question about whether he had also discussed the matter of a civil nuclear deal with the US, he said that discussing “some matters are against national dignity”.
The foreign minister said that both the civilian and military leadership had presented Pakistan’s point of view with “one voice”.
Promise: He said the US had promised to reconsider its policy of screening Pakistani travellers at US airports. He said that a meeting between Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and an American think tank was “extremely successful”.
“Pakistan has talked about ‘trade not aid’ with the US and we have agreed on some things regarding the energy sector,” the foreign minister said.
Qureshi said the dialogue process would continue and its next phase would start in April, adding that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would visit Pakistan after the completion of the second phase of the dialogue.
“Several US delegations will also visit Pakistan for mutual cooperation in various fields,” the foreign minister said, adding that after Hillary’s visit, he would again go to the US for further developments, APP reported. staff report/app