PAK-GILANI 2 LST

The Premier hoped that the strategic dialogue would be
"scheduled expeditiously to discuss agreed components during
the first half of 2010" as had been agreed during US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton's visit to the country last year.

Gilani "underlined the imperative of the strategic
dialogue for building trust to remove misperceptions or
misgivings prevalent on both sides."
On being briefed by Holbrooke and his team on 'Operation
Mushtarik', the new campaign launched by the US in
Afghanistan, Gilani expressed concerns about the "spill-over
of refugees and militants" from Afghanistan's Helmand region
into Balochistan and North West Frontier Province in Pakistan.
He hoped these concerns will be kept in mind by US and
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops and
there would be enhanced coordination and cooperation with
Pakistani armed forces in this regard.
Referring to Pakistan's burgeoning energy needs, Gilani
called for fast-tracking of dialogue in this sector to
mitigate the power shortage in the country.
He hoped that projects identified in the US strategy for
regional stabilisation would be implemented on a priority
basis.
Gilani also expressed concern about delay in disbursement
of money from the Coalition Support Fund and in the release of
aid to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar Act, saying this was
adversely affecting the economy.
Holbrooke, who arrived in Islamabad after visiting Kabul,
briefed Gilani on the political situation in Afghanistan and
the operation against militants in Helmand province. PTI RHL
PRS



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