North Atlantic Council meets President Zardari of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari visited the NATO Headquarters and had a meeting with the North Atlantic Council. Ambassadors welcomed President Zardari as the first ever elected President of Pakistan to address the Council.
During the meeting, Allies noted that Pakistan and NATO are united in facing the same threat of extremists trying to destabilise Pakistan and the whole region, including Afghanistan. Deputy NATO Secretary General Bisogniero said: “More than ever, it is clear to us that those killing innocent lives in the streets of Islamabad, Mingora or Lahore are the very same determined to take Afghanistan back under Taliban rule and to strike our countries as they did in London, New York or Madrid. That is why our partnership with Pakistan is so central and that we see your presence today as a clear political gesture to take this relationship to a new level.”
President Zardari briefed the North Atlantic Council on the efforts of his country in the fight against extremism and thanked NATO Allies for their support.
The President was accompanied by Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi and Interior Minister Mr Rehman Malik.