US national intelligence director meets Zardari

Islamabad, June 1 (ANI): President Asif Ali Zardari has asked the United States to allow market access to Pakistani goods to help the country overcome problems of poverty and unemployment as a means to fight militancy and extremism.

He said this during meeting with Dennis C. Blair, Director National Intelligence of the US, who called on him Monday in the Presidency.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Secretary General Salman Faruqui, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir were also present in the meeting, The News reported.

The President said that war against militancy had political ownership and a broad based national consensus in Pakistan and the government is determined to win this war.

Dennis Blair said that the US and international community is willing to help Pakistan in its fight against militants.

The fight against extremists was a collective responsibility of the international community and the world was ready to assist Pakistan, he said.

The United States, he added, was committed to a long-term partnership with Pakistan to ensure its political and economic stability. (ANI)