Obama to co-host FoDP summit with Brown, Zardari in New York

Washington, Sep.17 (ANI): US President Barack Obama would be co-hosting the first summit-level meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) scheduled to be held in New York on September 24.

According to an official statement released here, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will also participate in the summit.

The statement highlighted Pakistan's effort towards combating terrorism and said that the country needs support from its allies to help it counter the numerous problems it is facing.

"While Pakistan remains committed to eliminating the menace of terrorism and is determined to become an anchor of peace and stability, it needs the moral, material and political support of its friends and allies," The Dawn quoted the statement, as saying.

"Only an economically, politically and militarily strong and stable Pakistan can combat the menace of terrorism and extremism in an effective manner," it added.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed the international community to help Pakistan tackle terrorist threats and the issues regarding the displacement of thousands of people due to the Swat military offensive.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of the beginning of the 64th session of the General Assembly, Ban Ki-moon said Pakistan was in the forefront of war against terrorism and its government needed the international community's assistance to overcome the crises. (ANI)