Himalayan News Service

Islamabad, July 8:

The US has said it will meet Pakistan’s defence requirements to maintain the military balance in South Asia, reports Online news agency. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this during her telephonic talk here yesterday with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, when he apprised her of Pakistan’s concerns on the new US-India defence agreement, Online reported quoting foreign office sources. “We don’t want new and advanced weapons systems to come into the region which destabilise the security situation in the region,” Kasuri underlined. Rice assured Kasuri that her country would remain responsive to Pakistan’s security concerns. The US is mindful of the fact that Pakistan is both a key strategic ally and a major non-NATO ally, which could not be overlooked, she said. Both the leaders talked about ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India.

Kasuri said Pakistan wants to resolve all contentious issues, including the Kashmir issue with India, in a peaceful manner. With reference to Afghanistan, Kasuri said Pakistan would continue to support President Karzai’s government. “We are supportive of peaceful holding of upcoming parliamentary elections in Afghanistan,” he said. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will visit Kabul on July 24, he said. Both the leaders also exchanged views on the Iraq situation. Kasuri said Pakistan had relocated his ambassador in Iraq to Amman temporarily. However, the Pakistan embassy will remain open in Iraq, he said. Kasuri and Rice strongly condemned the bomb attacks in London in which around 50 people were killed yesterday.