Thaindian News

Rawalpindi, Jan 21 (IANS) Pakistan Thursday handed over its military wish list to the US, demanding the latest weapons and helicopters to enable effective action against terrorists in the country’s tribal areas.
The list was handed over when visiting US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on his Pakistani counterpart, Ahmed Mukhtar here.

Matters related to Pakistan-US defence relations, the war against terror, regional security, the situation arising out of US drone attacks, the strategic partnership and other matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting.

Speaking to Online news agency after the meeting, Mukhtar described it as “very constructive” and said he had told Gates to stop the discriminatory attitude towards Pakistan acquiring civil nuclear technology and that Pakistan should be treated as a strategic partner.

Mukhtar said he had apprised Gates of the negative impacts of the drone attacks in the North and South Waziristan agencies and demanded their immediate end.

This year alone has seen eight missile strikes by US spy planes. More than 700 people have died in close to 80 drone strikes in Pakistan since August 2008.

Mukhtar said he had also urged the US to implement its long-term promise of establishing Regional Economic Zones (ROZ) in the tribal areas so that the negative image of the US in the region could be reversed.

According to sources, Gates said that Pakistan was taking serious steps in the war against terror and the US would fulfill Pakistan’s defence needs for this effort.

He said Obama Administration is seriously considering Pakistan’s demands and the

matter of a strategic partnership would be reviewed.

Gates arrived here from New Delhi where he said Wednesday said that the terrorists operating in Af-Pak region could provoke a war on the sub-continent.

Contending that the terrorists groups were dangerous for the stability of the entire South Asian region, Gates sought greater cooperation among countries to reduce the threat.

“It is important to recognise the magnitude of threat the entire region (of South Asia) faces. These (terrorist) groups (in Af-Pak region) are operating under the umbrella of Al Qaeda and are orchestrating attacks using one element in Afghanistan, one element in Pakistan and working with the Lashkar-e-Taiba to plan attacks in India,” Gates said at a press conference in New Delhi.

“They are a syndicate of terrorists operating to destabilise the region. All of us should reduce the threat and eliminate it whenever possible. It requires high level of cooperation,” Gates maintained.

“It (the terrorist syndicate) is intended to destabilize not only Afghanistan or Pakistan but whole region. They may lead India and Pakistan to war by a provocative act. It is dangerous for the whole region,” he added.