Pakistan-US strategic dialogue from Wednesday

Islamabad, Sep 10 (UNI) The second round of Pakistan-US strategic dialogue begins on Wednesday in Islamabad.

Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan and Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte will lead their respective delegations in the dialogue.

Briefing newspersons in Islamabad Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said the discussions would focus on economic cooperation, education, security, counter terrorism and social sectors.

When asked Pakistan's expectations from the strategic dialogue and the progress achieved, she said "we are interested in promoting cooperation in education, science and technology and energy".

Pakistan, she added, would like to send its students for higher education and training in the United States, which has dropped after 9/11 because of very complicated US visa procedures.

Ms Aslam said the US has streamlined the system to an extent but Pakistan wants that its students should be given greater opportunities of study in US educational institutions in specialized fields.

Pakistan also wants to see progress in dialogue in energy sector.

This is an important sector and the United States experts have been giving advice on alternative energy resources and how to harness them.

In science and technology, Pakistan would like its students and professionals to be able to get higher education and expertise in the United States. Ms Aslam said several countries are assisting Pakistan in setting up of universities and it would like the US to also extend cooperation in this regard.

''Pakistan would also welcome opening of campuses by American Universities in the country,'' said the spokeswoman.

UNI