Islamabad, Jan. 8 (ANI): President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated the demand for transfer of US drone technology to Pakistan so that Islamabad could itself hit high-value targets in its Tribal Areas.

“Persuade the US policymakers to give drone technology to Pakistan so that militants could be targeted by Pakistani security forces themselves rather than foreign troops which raise the question of sovereignty,” The Dawn quoted Zardari, as saying during his meeting with US Senator John McCain.

Zardari told McCain that drone attacks inside the Pakistani territory had undermined the national consensus on the war on terror.

McCain in response reportedly said that US authorities had been making a strategy to reduce chances of collateral damage by drones.

Zardari underlined the need for strategic long-term partnership between Pakistan and the United States based on “mutual interest, respect and trust.”

Seeking the early release of 1.2 billion dollars arrears in Coalition Support Fund, Zardari called for restricting US forces’ operations to the Afghanistan side only.

Zardari said the war on terror had cost Pakistan’s economy 35 billion dollars in the past eight years, paralysing its growth.

He also called for market access for Pakistani goods into the US and EU markets and asked the congressional delegation to play its role for early adoption of ROZ’s legislation in the Congress.

Referring to President Obama’s new Afghan strategy, Zardari said that Pakistan had legitimate interests in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan. (ANI)