* President says decisions taken during previous round of Pak-US strategic dialogue should be fully implemented

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said that the upcoming round of Pak-US strategic dialogue would advance progress made so far in all areas of cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.

Talking to Richard Holbrooke, the special US representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the president said the roadmap prepared during previous meetings should be fully pursued to implement projects identified in the negotiations.

Discussing the regional security situation, the president said that the Pakistani people and the armed forces had made great sacrifices in the ongoing fight against terrorism. “Despite the great human and material toll, we are determined to pursue our struggle till its logical end,” the president said.

He said that the international community must take into consideration “our requirements and valid concerns” while chalking out any regional strategy against terrorism.

The president stressed the need for developing areas that are plagued by terrorism to win the battle of hearts and minds. Zardari said that he had been urging the international community to specifically focus on such areas to defeat extremism.

Referring to Afghanistan, the president said that a stable, prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan. “We firmly believe in the policy of neutrality and non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan,” he said.

He said that Pakistan fully supported the Afghan-led process of political reconciliation and efforts for the stability of the neighboring country.

The president also urged the international community to coordinate their efforts for restoration of peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. “On our part, we will complement the international community’s efforts and will provide all possible assistance for capacity building of the Afghan institutions,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Holbrooke reiterated US administration’s long-term commitment towards the Pakistani government and people.

He expressed the hope that the strategic dialogue would yield positive results and further strengthen the Pak-US relations.

“The United Stated values Pakistan’s desire for peace and stability in the region and we greatly appreciate sacrifices made by Pakistan in the war against terror,” he said.

US Ambassador Anne W Patterson and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington Hussain Haqqani also attended the meeting.