Zardari for better Indo-Pak ties; welcomes US help

Lalit K Jha

Washington, May 8 (PTI) Hoping for better relations with
India after the general elections, Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari has said he would welcome any American help in
improving Indo-Pak ties.

"I know they are busy at the moment. Democracies are
always willing to work with democracies. I'm hoping for better
relations," Zardari, who met President Barack Obama here at a
trilateral meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said.

Obama, during his talks with Zardari, had bluntly told
him that Pakistan needs to concentrate on security challenges
within the Taliban-infested country rather than considering
India as an "existential threat".

"I'm looking forward to a relationship with India after
the elections," Zardari told reporters in response to a
question at Capitol Hill, after his meetings with the leaders
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee along with Karzai.

He was flanked by Karzai, John Kerry, Chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its Ranking Member,
Senator Richard Lugar.

"If our American friends can help us, they're welcome
to," Zardari said responding to a question and added, "We
always encourage help from all friends".

In his interview early this week with the CNN, Zardari
had said that he is awaiting the formation of a new government
in New Delhi to start a "fresh dialogue" with it.

The two-day trilateral summit of the US, Afghanistan and
Pakistan that concluded Thursday, saw the presidents of the
three countries pledging to work together to "defeat" al Qaeda
and the Taliban from the region.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said "our
friend" India should unconditionally support efforts by
Islamabad to deal with the Taliban insurgency.

"If they (India) have given any conditions, I think it
will be in good faith that they withdraw them and show a
gesture of friendship," Malik told NDTV.

On reports that Pakistan wants the US to ask India to
withdraw troops from its western border, Malik said: "there is
nothing of that sort".

"But I think the trust deficit needs to be decreased.
Unless we have trust to a desired level, I think this
suspicion will continue to exist," he said. PTI LKJ
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Ansari leaves for S Africa to attend inauguration of Prez Zuma

New Delhi, May 8 (PTI) India's Vice President Hamid
Ansari left here Friday on a three-day visit to South Africa
during which he will represent India at the inauguration of
Jacob Zuma as the fourth democratically elected President of
that country.

Ansari would join a host of world leaders, who would
assemble at Pretoria Saturday for the inauguration of Zuma
following the ruling ANC's landslide win in the April 22
polls.

The Vice President, who is accompanied by wife Salma
Ansari and Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External
Affairs Nalin Surie along with some other high-level
officials, is expected to meet some world leaders during the
visit.

Zuma, 67, was elected as President on Thursday by the
South African parliament with a thumping majority. He polled
277 votes out of 327 cast by MPs against his opponent Mvume
Dandala, who secured 47.

Ansari's visit "underlines historic bond between the two
countries and India's determination to add depth to the
relations," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash
told reporters ahead of the Vice President's trip.

Prakash noted that India's relations with South Africa
have been growing from "strength to strength" and have
developed into strategic ties.

New Delhi and Pretoria share common views on a number of
global issues which they have been jointly airing through the
India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) forum.

South Africa is also a key member of the 54-nation
African Union (AU) with which India seeks to enhance
cooperation in all spheres, particularly in trade and
investment.

India is also looking for support of the AU for its bid
for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council.

South Africa is one of the largest trading partners of
India in the African continent, the MEA spokesman said.

The volume of bilateral trade has been increasing and
stood at USD 6.2 billion during the financial year 2007-08.
The bilateral trade in 2008-09 is estimated to be of the tune
of USD 7 billion.

Incidentally, Ansari's visit to South Africa is taking
place at a time when the Indian Premier League (IPL)
tournament is being played in that country.

Asked whether the Vice President would take some time out
to watch any IPL match, the spokesman said it would depend on
Ansari's personal interest. PTI