Pakistan wants partnership with US beyond cooperation on terrorism: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said Pakistan wants an enduring partnership with the United States and a relationship beyond cooperation on terrorism.

In his meeting with US Senator John McCain at the PM House, the Prime Minister said he looked forward to a deeper level of engagement with the United States in all areas of bilateral relations including energy, social sector and economic cooperation.

The Prime Minister appreciated Senator John McCain's continued support to Pakistan in the US Congress and said he would welcome the visit by the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

Senator McCain who is a Ranking Member of US Senate Armed Services Committee, acknowledged that relations between the US and Pakistan had seen difficult times in the past.

He said the US considers Pakistan as an important country and it is not in the US' national interest to abandon Pakistan once again.

He assured the Prime Minister of the United States' continued support to the people of Pakistan in their efforts to secure a stable and prosperous future.

The US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011