Pak looks forward to broadening cooperation with US

Pakistan on Saturday said it looked forward to broadening bilateral cooperation with the US during America's special envoy Richard Holbrooke's visit to the country next week.
 
Holbrooke, the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, will meet president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani when he visits the country during February 9-12, said a statement from the Foreign Office.
 
Pakistan looked forward to "further broadening and deepening of bilateral cooperation with the US," it said.
 
"Pakistan has welcomed the appointment of Mr Holbrooke and looks forward to the beginning of a process of constructive engagement with the US, especially in the wake of assumption of office by president Barack Obama and his team."

Islamabad wants to develop a "fresh perspective on issues of peace, security, stability and the development of the region" while effectively addressing issues like militancy, terrorism and extremism through a "comprehensive and holistic strategy", the statement added.

There has been considerable heartburn in the establishment in Islamabad over the US administration's decision to limit Holbrooke's mandate to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
 
Senior Pakistani leaders like prime minister Gilani have been making a case for Holbrooke's mandate to be expanded to include India while linking the resolution of the Kashmir issue to efforts to curb terrorism in the region.