ISLAMABAD: Pakistan needs a strong civilian security apparatus to deter the increasing number of terrorist attacks in the wake of the Swat operation, President Asif Ali Zardari said here on Friday during talks with Janet Napolitano, chief of the US Department of Homeland Security.
 
The meeting was also attended by US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Secretary General Salman Faruqui and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.

Stressing the need for strengthening the civilian security apparatus, the president said: ‘Pakistan needs more assistance in the civilian security sector. The country also needs help for rehabilitating the displaced people.’
 
Sources in the interior ministry said Pakistan had urged the US government to provide it explosives scanners, security cameras and other security gadgets to curb the movement of terrorists.

The president also underlined the need for setting up Reconstruction Opportunity Zones.
 
Ms Napolitano said that the US administration was conscious about Pakistans needs in the fight against militancy and was keen to help Pakistan.

US INDEPENDENCE DAY
President Zardari felicitated President Barack Obama on the independence day of the United States, which is being celebrated on Saturday.

President Zardari said Pakistan valued its friendship with the US and looked forward to furthering the partnership between the two countries.