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Gilani asks US to provide drone technology: Zardari to complete term: Holbrooke

* Democracy critically important for Pakistan
* PM welcomes Obama’s efforts to help Pakistan overcome energy crisis

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari will hopefully complete his “role” as the democratically elected head of Pakistan, US special envoy Richard Holbrooke said on Monday, as Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani urged the Obama administration to provide Pakistan with drone technology.

“I am obviously hopeful that he (Zardari) will complete his role as democratically-elected president,” he told senior journalists and editors during an informal interaction. He said there was a marked change in the political situation of Pakistan. Refraining from commenting on the internal politics of Pakistan, he said the situation had improved greatly from what he had observed during his first visit. “There is much more cooperation and much more dialogue,” he added.

Critical: “Democracy is critically important in Pakistan ... let there be no mistake about it ... we support the democratic process (in Pakistan),” Holbrooke said. He said he had conducted meetings with the top Pakistani leadership. “I met the leaders of the Awami National Party and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Fazl in addition to a detailed meeting with Nawaz Sharif. I will also meet Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and, of course, the president,” he said. He said the US was shifting its focus to Pakistan’s energy crisis, as it had the potential to cripple the entire country’s economy if it were not resolved.

Referring to forthcoming elections in Afghanistan, the envoy said he could not predict anything. “We support and encourage free and fair elections ... the outcome will reflect the people’s opinion.”

Good move: “Drone attacks remain a matter of public concern in Pakistan ... The US should provide drone technology to Pakistan, enabling its armed forces to take action against terrorists,” the prime minister told Holbrooke during a separate meeting. He also welcomed US President Barack Obama’s initiative to form a joint task force to assist Pakistan overcome the present energy crisis in the country.

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