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Published 09 Mar, 2007 12:00am

Pakistan paid heavy price, says Crocker

ISLAMABAD, March 8: Pakistan has paid a far heavier price for its anti-terror role than any other country and the United States is ‘fully satisfied with Islamabad’s role’, according to outgoing US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker.

He was talking to newsmen at the Parliament House here after a reception hosted by Chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain on Thursday.

Praising Pakistan’s role in the global war on terror, Mr Crocker said ties between the two countries were cordial and asserted that no other country had played such a tremendous role, particularly against Taliban and Al Qaeda elements.

Referring to the US demand for Pakistan to ‘do more’, the US ambassador said: “Pakistan is a committed and strong ally of the US in this war.” However, Mr Crocker hoped that Pakistan would ‘continue its cooperation until satisfactory results’ were achieved.

Mr Crocker said much of the ‘do more’ was based on speculations, but the fact remained that Pakistan had proved that it was a ‘strong and effective member of the world community’ in the war against terrorism.

Mr Crocker said: “What we have done together ... is a great reflection of our ties,” adding that Pakistan had lost scores of soldiers and civilians and the loss was more than what any other country had suffered.

He said: “We are facing an enemy who has the determination and the will to fight hard.”

The ambassador said during his two and a half years’ stay, relations between Pakistan and US had developed and strengthened.

“There is no leader in the United States who did not visit Pakistan during my tenure,” he said.

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