US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the Prime Minister Secretariat and discussed bilateral relations, including defence, economic and trade relations as well as the regional situation. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the growing co-operation and close relations between the two countries and welcomed the decision of the United States government to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan. The decision, he said, would contribute towards meeting Pakistan's legitimate defence needs.

Shaukat expressed confidence that economic and trade relations would further increase and Pakistan would benefit from foreign direct investment by the US investors.

Referring to relations with India, the prime minister said Pakistan remained committed to the composite dialogue process with India and believes that the process is irreversible.

Various confidence-building measures (CBMs) had contributed to improvement in atmospherics, he said. The prime minister, however, stressed that progress with India in different areas would have to move in tandem with progress on the Kashmir issue.

The president, he added, was playing a very important role in talks with India and had demonstrated great courage and flexibility. He hoped that the Indian side would also reciprocate.

The prime minister also informed Rocca that Islamabad has invited All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders to Pakistan. He said that Pakistan welcomed the progress being made by the Karzai government and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for the Bonn process.

Pakistan, he said, would continue to extend all-possible help to the Afghan government in improving its security and for its national reconstruction efforts. The US along with other friendly countries would also help Afghanistan in dealing with the drug trade.

The prime minister said the economy has made significant progress as a result of structural reforms during the last six years and achieved the growth rate of 8.3 percent against the target of 6.6 percent envisaged for the current year.

The growth has been spread over all sectors, including agriculture, industry and services sectors. This has placed Pakistan among the top five growing economies in Asia, he said. Rocca said that the US values its relations with Pakistan, especially the co-operation extended in the global war against terrorism, which was highly appreciated by the US as well as the international community. She assured continued US co-operation to strengthen Pakistan's security and increase economic and trade relations.

Rocca also welcomed Pakistan's assistance to Afghanistan and its positive role with respect to its relations with India.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005