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Washington, Jan 28 (PTI) Making a case for massive US aid to save Pakistan from the brink of economic collapse, President Asif Ali Zardari today said his country needs to be stable to defeat extremists and appealed to Washington to give it necessary tools, including modern military equipment.
"Give us the tools, and we will get the job done," Zardari wrote in a special opinion piece published in 'The Washington Post' in which he congratulated Barack Obama on becoming the US President.
He said "Obama understands that for Pakistan to defeat the extremists, it must be stable." For democracy to succeed, Pakistan must be economically viable, he added.
"Assistance to Pakistan is not charity; rather, the creation of a politically stable and economically viable Pakistan is in the long-term, strategic interest of the United States," he said.
Zardari said the Obama administration should immediately encourage Congress to pass the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act.
The multi-year, USD 1.5 billion annual commitment to social progress here would signal to the people of Pakistan that this is no longer a relationship of political convenience but, rather, of shared values and goals, he said.
"Strengthening our democracy and helping us to improve education, housing and health care is the greatest tool we could wield against extremism. Indeed, such policy is the fanatics' worst fear," Zardari said. PTI
"Give us the tools, and we will get the job done," Zardari wrote in a special opinion piece published in 'The Washington Post' in which he congratulated Barack Obama on becoming the US President.
He said "Obama understands that for Pakistan to defeat the extremists, it must be stable." For democracy to succeed, Pakistan must be economically viable, he added.
"Assistance to Pakistan is not charity; rather, the creation of a politically stable and economically viable Pakistan is in the long-term, strategic interest of the United States," he said.
Zardari said the Obama administration should immediately encourage Congress to pass the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act.
The multi-year, USD 1.5 billion annual commitment to social progress here would signal to the people of Pakistan that this is no longer a relationship of political convenience but, rather, of shared values and goals, he said.
"Strengthening our democracy and helping us to improve education, housing and health care is the greatest tool we could wield against extremism. Indeed, such policy is the fanatics' worst fear," Zardari said. PTI
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