Pakistan President Zardari attends NATO Summit in Chicago, presses to help find a “permanent solution” to US drone strikes; PM Gilani welcomes Turkish investments; A US Senate panel expresses its outrage over Pakistan’s conviction of a doctor who helped t
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print
  • According to reports, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, during a NATO meeting in Chicago May 20, 2012, pressed the United States to help find a “permanent solution” to US drone strikes that have fueled tensions between the two uneasy allies. Zardari also called for the United States to do more to make amends for the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers killed in November by US aircraft along the border with Afghanistan. 1

    In another development, according to reports, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on May 21, 2012 that Pakistan was seeking more Turkish investments in multifarious sectors and was ready to offer special incentive package and exclusive investment zone for Turkish entrepreneurs and companies. Speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Gilani said, “Pakistan would warmly welcome more Turkish investments in infrastructure including energy, construction and communication as well as in urban development and agriculture sectors”. 2

    In other developments, reports noted that a US Senate panel on May 24, 2012, expressed its outrage over Pakistan’s conviction of a doctor who helped the United States track down Osama bin Laden, cutting aid to Islamabad by $33 million, $1 million for every year of the physician’s 33-year sentence for high treason. The punitive move came on top of deep reductions the Appropriations Committee had already made to President Barack Obama’s budget request for Pakistan, a reflection of the growing congressional anger over its cooperation in combating terrorism. Meanwhile, according to reports, the overall foreign aid budget for next year had slashed more than half of the proposed assistance and threatened further reductions if Islamabad fails to open overland supply routes to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. 3

    Top