10/19/2009 7:33 AM
ET
(RTTNews) -
Senator John Kerry and a U.S. delegation led by U.S. Central Command Chief General David Petraeus held separate meetings with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Monday, as an all-out military assault against militants along the Afghan border is in full swing in South Waziristan.
The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee arrived in Pakistan to alleviate Pakistani military's concerns about conditions in the Kerry-Lugar aid package.
Kerry, the main architect of the Bill that provides $7.5 billion over the next five years for the troubled south Asian country's socio-economic sector, apprised the Prime Minister about the explanatory statement that had been attached to the bill.
The bill prevents the funding from being used for nuclear proliferation, to support militants or to attack neighboring countries and calls for a cut-off in aid if Pakistan fails to crack down on extremists.
U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson also accompanied Kerry for the meeting held at the Prime Minister's house in Islamabad.
They also discussed bilateral relations and the need to carry forward their long-term relationship.
He is scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif.
Gen. Petraeus, commander of the US Central Command that oversees the war in neighboring Afghanistan, discussed with Gilani the war on terrorism and the military operation against Taliban militants in the restive northwest tribal region.
Pakistani forces backed by heavy artillery attacked insurgents Monday, triggered by Taliban's storming of the army headquarters last week, which killed more than 150 people.
State-run Pakistan Television (PTV) quoted Gilani as telling Petraeus that the military offensive had 'full support' of the political leadership and the nation.
Islamabad has long been under pressure from the U.S. to eliminate Taliban and al Qaeda sanctuaries in the lawless border region, from where they orchestrated and launched attacks on Western troops in Afghanistan.
Pakistani government was forced to begin all-out attack Saturday after the militants focused on the country's police centers with a wave of assaults. Thirty-three people were killed in a series of coordinated attacks targeting the local headquarters of the Federal Investigations Agency (FIA) and two police training centers in Lahore Thursday.
Petraeus acknowledged Pakistan's military gains against the Taliban, the report said.
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