Asif Ali Zardari meets Obama, Hillary Clinton; discusses Afghanistan, terrorism

US President Barack Obama today met visiting Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari at the White House and discussed with him efforts in combating terrorism and achieving stability in Afghanistan.

Zardari is on a two-day unofficial visit to Washington to attend the memorial service of Richard Holbrooke, Obama's former special envoy to the Af-Pak region, who died last month at the age of 69.

"The discussion focused on our shared efforts to fight terrorism and promote regional stability, specifically on the importance of cooperating toward a peaceful and stable outcome in Afghanistan," the White House said after the meeting that lasted for more than 30 minutes.

Obama told Zardari that he is looking forward to visiting Pakistan later this year, the White House said.

"The president underscored the importance of the US-Pakistan relationship and our continued support for Pakistan," it said.

Pakistan's ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani told a briefing after the meeting that both leaders agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations.

"No body said Pakistan was not doing enough. Nothing negative was said about either country," he said.

Haqqani was the only Pakistani official to have accompanied Zardari for the Obama meeting at the Oval office.

Obama was accompanied by secretary of state Hillary Clinton and national security advisor Tom Donilon, besides his counter-terrorism advisors.

The Obama-Zardari meeting comes within days of the Islamabad visit of US vice president Joe Biden, where he met the top Pakistani leadership, including Zardari.

White House officials said Zardari would be coming back to Washington later this year on an official visit.

Obama too has announced that he would be travelling to Pakistan later this year. Dates of both the visits have not been announced so far.

Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson to President Zardari said that the talks between the two leaders focused on terrorism, democracy, economic reforms and assistance to Pakistan in its fight against militancy.

During the meeting, Zardari said it was imperative Pakistan was assisted by the international community, especially the US, in the fight against militancy by addressing the economic problems of the country.

Specifying the economic assistance needed the President said that support to Pakistan in overcoming the energy crisis and allowing greater market access to its goods were critical elements to overcome economic problems and for winning the long term fight against militancy.

According to a statement, Zardari said the problem of militancy and extremism faced by Pakistan and the region was created and nurtured collectively by the international community decades ago to defeat the rival ideology.

Once the rival ideology was defeated the international community left Pakistan, Afghanistan and the region at the mercy of the militants it had nurtured initially for the purpose of defeating the rival ideology, he said.

Zardari during the meeting, highlighted the need for greater market access to Pakistani goods in the US and European markets and called upon the US administration to use its influence in pleading its case in this regard.

He reiterated Pakistan's call for the establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in the country that were needed to open new vistas of economic opportunities, seeking the need to expedite ROZs legislation.

Babar said the meeting was helpful in further promoting mutual understanding of the issues concerning the two countries and to provide impetus to multifaceted and long-term relations between the two countries.

They also underscored the importance of forging a comprehensive partnership between the two countries, Babar said.