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| Pakistan 'battling for survival' | Pakistan 'battling for survival' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan is "battling for its own survival", its president, Asif Ali Zardari, has told visiting US special envoy for Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke. | Pakistan is "battling for its own survival", its president, Asif Ali Zardari, has told visiting US special envoy for Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke. |
| Mr Holbrooke has been holding key talks with Pakistani leaders focusing on the new US regional strategy to confront the Taleban and al-Qaeda. | Mr Holbrooke has been holding key talks with Pakistani leaders focusing on the new US regional strategy to confront the Taleban and al-Qaeda. |
| Mr Zardari said Pakistan needed "unconditional support" to fight terrorism and extremism. | Mr Zardari said Pakistan needed "unconditional support" to fight terrorism and extremism. |
| Pakistan also said there was a "gap" in opinion on the use of US drone attacks. | |
| Mr Holbrooke, the joint US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Islamabad after talks with Afghan leaders in Kabul. | Mr Holbrooke, the joint US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Islamabad after talks with Afghan leaders in Kabul. |
| US President Barack Obama recently unveiled his new strategy, which combines Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of a new regional push to defeat the militants affecting both nations. | US President Barack Obama recently unveiled his new strategy, which combines Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of a new regional push to defeat the militants affecting both nations. |
| The strategy is at the forefront of Mr Obama's foreign policy agenda. | The strategy is at the forefront of Mr Obama's foreign policy agenda. |
| Drone attacks | Drone attacks |
| Mr Obama has pledged substantial economic assistance for Pakistan - more than $1bn annually over the next five years - but the money will depend on the army's performance against the Taleban and al-Qaeda. | Mr Obama has pledged substantial economic assistance for Pakistan - more than $1bn annually over the next five years - but the money will depend on the army's performance against the Taleban and al-Qaeda. |
| There was a little bit of hope when Mr Obama became the president, and the expectation was that there would be a little bit of shift in policy. But I don't think that has happened Aftab Ahmad Sherpao,Pakistan ex-foreign minister | There was a little bit of hope when Mr Obama became the president, and the expectation was that there would be a little bit of shift in policy. But I don't think that has happened Aftab Ahmad Sherpao,Pakistan ex-foreign minister |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says President Zardari has now told the two US envoys that this is not good enough. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says President Zardari has now told the two US envoys that this is not good enough. |
| His statement after the meeting read: "Pakistan... needs unconditional support by the international community in the fields of education, health, training and provision of equipment for fighting terrorism." | His statement after the meeting read: "Pakistan... needs unconditional support by the international community in the fields of education, health, training and provision of equipment for fighting terrorism." |
| "Pakistan is fighting a battle of its own survival," his office quoted him as telling Mr Holbrooke. | "Pakistan is fighting a battle of its own survival," his office quoted him as telling Mr Holbrooke. |
| It also added: "The president said the government would not succumb to any pressure by militants." | It also added: "The president said the government would not succumb to any pressure by militants." |
| Our correspondent says his statement revealed the frustration and resentment about the aid conditions - which reflect American distrust of the Pakistani army. | Our correspondent says his statement revealed the frustration and resentment about the aid conditions - which reflect American distrust of the Pakistani army. |
| The conditions strengthen Pakistani perceptions of its army as a mercenary force doing American bidding, she adds. | The conditions strengthen Pakistani perceptions of its army as a mercenary force doing American bidding, she adds. |
| Mr Holbrooke's visit drew angry protests from activists in Lahore | Mr Holbrooke's visit drew angry protests from activists in Lahore |
| In a press conference on Tuesday, both nations spoke of the need for "trust". | |
| Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said: "We can only work together if we respect each other and trust each other." | |
| Washington has been particularly concerned at the escalating Taleban insurgency on Pakistani territory and wants to eliminate "safe havens" along the Afghan border. | Washington has been particularly concerned at the escalating Taleban insurgency on Pakistani territory and wants to eliminate "safe havens" along the Afghan border. |
| Increasing US drone attacks on militants in Pakistan were also high on the agenda - Islamabad has always opposed them as a violation of sovereignty. | Increasing US drone attacks on militants in Pakistan were also high on the agenda - Islamabad has always opposed them as a violation of sovereignty. |
| Mr Qureshi admitted there was "a gap between us and them" on the issue. | |
| Adm Mullen did not respond directly when asked why the US would not simply hand over the drones to Pakistan but said the US was eager to share counter-insurgency techniques. | |
| In recent weeks the militants have shown themselves capable of carrying out major assaults in the heart of Pakistan - with dozens of people dying last week in a number of suicide bomb attacks. | In recent weeks the militants have shown themselves capable of carrying out major assaults in the heart of Pakistan - with dozens of people dying last week in a number of suicide bomb attacks. |
| Pakistan's former Foreign Minister, Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, told the BBC that ordinary Pakistanis had not been convinced by Mr Obama's efforts to win over the Muslim world. | Pakistan's former Foreign Minister, Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, told the BBC that ordinary Pakistanis had not been convinced by Mr Obama's efforts to win over the Muslim world. |
| "There was a little bit of hope when Mr Obama became the president, and the expectation was that there would be a little bit of shift in policy. But I don't think that has happened," he said. | "There was a little bit of hope when Mr Obama became the president, and the expectation was that there would be a little bit of shift in policy. But I don't think that has happened," he said. |
| "The drone attacks continue, and they feel that there is little for Pakistan. Yes, they have said that they will be giving aid, but at what cost?" | "The drone attacks continue, and they feel that there is little for Pakistan. Yes, they have said that they will be giving aid, but at what cost?" |
| Mr Holbrooke and Mike Mullen are expected to go on to India for discussions of regional security issues. | Mr Holbrooke and Mike Mullen are expected to go on to India for discussions of regional security issues. |