US to push for Pakistan economic support at G-8 meeting

15:03, 24 June 2009

WASHINGTON. June 24. KAZINFORM The United States will ask major industrialized nations to expand their economic support for Pakistan at this week's meeting of G-8 foreign ministers in Italy to help the South Asian anti-terror ally deal with the "enormous humanitarian challenge" to provide relief to millions of displaced people; Kazinform has learnt from APP.

Undersecretary for Political Affairs William Burns will represent the U.S. at a series of meetings on Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Italian city of Trieste from June 25-26 in advance of the G-8 summit in July.

"We'll put a particular focus at this meeting on what they can do to help Pakistan, in particular, to bolster Pakistan's civilian government and its efforts to combat Taliban and extremists," a senior State Department told journalists at a briefing about U.S. participation in the meeting, also to be attended by Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.

Stressing the gigantic task Pakistan faces in looking after the internally displaced persons of Swat and other parts of northwestern Malakand region, the State Department official said the world must rally behind Islamabad's effort as it is trying to address a problem of global implications.

The official noted that the Italians are convinced that this is a global problem and can only be dealt with globally. The official expected an open dialogue on the challenges that in Afghanistan and Pakistan at the meetings; Kazinform cites APP.

See www.app.com.pk for full version.

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