16 July 2004	Friday	27 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, July 15: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage assured Pakistan on Thursday that Washington would speed up delivery of vital security assistance, look into Islamabad's additional defence requirements and consider any request for advanced weapons systems.

He held out the assurances at a news conference here at the Foreign Office after holding talks with Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar. "Our business is to do as much as we can to help our partner to take care of its own interests and security and I'll do that in any way possible," Mr Armitage said when his attention was drawn to the security assistance required by Pakistan for the ongoing war on terrorism.

Asked to elaborate on what more was in the pipeline, the US deputy secretary said: "We were provided with a list of equipment some time ago by the government of Pakistan, I don't have it on the top of my head, but my colleagues are certainly reviewing it."

"The foreign secretary asked for a little speed-up in the process and that is what we will be able to do." The US deputy secretary was non-committal on whether Pakistan could look forward to getting advanced weapon systems from the US after being designated as a major non-Nato ally.

"It depends on what advanced systems you are talking about and also depends on the needs of the Pakistani military as judged by the Pakistani military." On a more positive note, he said: "We will certainly consider any request that the government of Pakistan and its army can deem as appropriate."

Mr Armitage, however, made it clear that he had not come with any decisions on major weapons systems.

KASHMIR: He firmly stood by his statement made a day earlier in New Delhi that Pakistan had not fully dismantled training camps of militants. "I was correctly quoted yesterday when I just noted that all the terrorist camps have not been dismantled," he declared.

In a significant policy statement on Kashmir, Mr Armitage said: "It has to be noted that there are lots of different kinds of violence. Some across the LoC and other indigenous violence.

It all must be stopped so that the people in Jammu and Kashmir can have a prosperous life, a prosperous future, and that is what the US policy is directed towards." In reply to a question on violation of human rights in occupied Kashmir, he said: "There is absolutely no question that there is a violation of human rights and we have discussed this with our Indian friends."

Answering a question about Pakistani nationals detained in Guantanomo Bay, he said: "We are in the business of bringing them back." However, he did not give any timeframe for their repatriation.

In reply to a question he apologized for any conveniences caused to "distinguished guests from the great nation of Pakistan" by the US immigration authorities in the post-9/11 era. Pointing to the challenge of having open but secure borders he hoped that once "we prevailed in this world war on terrorism" these inconveniences would go.

TROOPS FOR IRAQ: Mr Armitage categorically stated that he had made no request to Pakistan for sending troops to Iraq for protection of UN mission. "I briefed the foreign secretary on our views on Iraq and made no request for deployment of troops to the government of Pakistan. Pakistan makes its own mind on these matters," he stated.

When Mr Armitage was asked if in the garb of the appointment of Mr Ashraf Jehangir Qazi as UN secretary-general's special representative to Iraq the US would pressure Pakistan and resort to arm-twisting to compel Pakistan to deploy its troops in Iraq, the foreign secretary swiftly interjected: "There is no garb and there is no arm-twisting and there is no request."

At this point Mr Armitage looked at the questioner and said half-smilingly: "If I would have answered I would have just said no." He said he believed the appointment of Mr Ashraf Qazi was a great tribute to the ministry of foreign affairs and to Pakistanis in general.

CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS: When asked about controversial statements made by US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad about Pakistan, Mr Armitage was evasive. He simply let it pass "as a tendency to sometimes look at things in a very narrow way".

When asked if Ambassador Khalilzad had been issued a licence to say whatever he wished (about Pakistan), the US deputy secretary said: "We haven't given any one licence, you can be sure of that."

Notably, there was no assurance from him that in future the US ambassador would exercise restraint. Earlier, in his opening remarks Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar said he was satisfied with the discussions that covered bilateral relations, situation in the region, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said that Pakistan was satisfied with the level of assistance the US had been providing and reiterated Islamabad's total commitment to fighting international terrorism.

"Pakistan and US are not only friends but partners and this is a relationship which is long and enduring," Mr Khokhar declared. Returning the foreign secretary's compliment, Mr Armitage said: "To be called a friend and partner of Pakistan is a great honour to the United States. We will do our best to be worthy of it."

While pledging a long-term, enduring relationship with Pakistan, the US deputy secretary conceded that in the past it was temporary, describing it as "one based on a third party as it were".

MEETINGS WITH PM: Mr Armitage called on Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and congratulated him on assuming his office, said an official statement. Both exchanged views on bilateral, regional and international developments, including the Pakistan-India dialogue, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The prime minister told the US official that Pakistan valued its friendship with the US and looked forward to a broad-based and durable partnership between the two countries, the statement said.

These sentiments were endorsed by Mr Armitage who said the US stood for a long-term friendship with Pakistan beyond the ongoing war on terrorism. The prime minister also underlined the government's commitment to combating terrorism.

Mr Armitage also held meetings with Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz. They discussed the ongoing bilateral cooperation and looked at ways and means of diversifying it to further consolidate ties, the foreign office spokesman said.

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT: In his meeting with Mr Kasuri, Mr Armitage assured him of the US desire for a long-term commitment and strategic relations with Pakistan.

"Secretary Armitage told the foreign minister that the US administration would support implementation of the multi-year economic and defence package concluded during the visit of President Pervez Musharraf," said a foreign office statement.

It added: "Secretary Armitage said that the US would be responsive to Pakistan's genuine security needs so that it could contribute to its defence capability."

The foreign minister told Mr Armitage that Pakistan was genuinely interested in having durable peace with India, but that could only be ensured by resolving the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said this could best be achieved by addressing the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Armitage said that the US was keen on seeing progress in the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan and would remain engaged in the process.

Mr Kasuri raised the issue of a recent memo issued by the US Department of Homeland Security to officials at major US airports to be extra vigilant about Pakistanis or Americans of Pakistan origin.

Mr Armitage expressed "regret over the matter" and promised to look into it and make efforts in this direction because the US valued very highly its relationship with Pakistan, the spokesman said.

The foreign minister also informed the US deputy secretary about the new Export Control Legislation on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that had been approved by the cabinet and sent to parliament for approval.

Secretary Armitage appreciated this move by Pakistan to further streamline the current control framework as an expression of its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, the spokesman said.

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