Holbrooke holds talks with Zardari

Islamabad, Feb.10 (ANI): Richard Halbrooke, the United States special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, met Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday here.

According to The News, several topics including the prevailing tension with India, the turbulent situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and the US led 'war on terror' were discussed at the meeting.

The increasing insurgency in the Federally Administered Tribal Region (FATA) and Taliban's growing influence in the region were also taken up during the talks.

Sevearal other top officials, including the US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson and Interior Advisor Rehman Malik were also present in the meeting.

Earlier, Holbrooke, who is on a four-day visit to take an account of the situation in the region, met Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and discussed US-Pak co-operation in the fight against terrorism with them.

Islamabad sought an increase in the US aid being offered to the country for combating extremism in the region. It also asked for making the dialogue procedure between both the nations more effectual.

Pakistani officials asked Washington to halt the drone attacks inside its territory as they were making the situation more turbulent in the region.

Halbrooke was also told that the US led 'war on terror' in Afghanistan was having a negative impact in Pakistan's tribal areas, and was also inciting ill-feelings for the allied forces and US. (ANI)