Hillary discusses Indo-Pak ties, anti-US protests with Zardari

Improving trade ties between Pakistan and India, terrorism and violent anti-US protests were among a host of issues that Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari discussed with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed when they met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here in New York.

Zardari brought up the issue of the anti-Islam movie with Clinton and the two leaders "spent quite a bit of time talking about the violence throughout the region," that has resulted in the aftermath of the movie, a State Department official told reporters after the meeting on Monday.

Clinton, on her part, reiterated the US stand that those provoking violence cannot be tolerated as it undermines the sovereignty of states. The Pakistani side also stressed that there was "zero tolerance" for both violence and extremism.

The two leaders also discussed the "growing trade relationship between Pakistan and India even as noted in the recent visit... (and) discussion of the Commerce Secretaries (of the two countries)," the official added.

Zardari, who will address the world body on Tuesday, was accompanied by Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

Over 20 people were killed across Pakistan in violent protests against the film deemed offensive to Islam.

Last week, Indian Commerce Secretary SR Rao was in Islamabad for the seventh round of talks on Commercial and Economic Co-Operation with his Pakistani counterpart Munir Qureshi. The two countries signed three agreements for cooperation in customs matters, redressal of trade grievances and conforming to quality standards to further normalise economic relations between the two countries.

The two leaders also talked about continued counter- terrorism cooperation, including efforts by the US to squeeze the Haqqani Network, which was recently designated as a foreign terrorist organisation.