Pakistan Made "key Us Ally"

[Vigil]

Pakistan to be made 'key US ally'

The United States will name Pakistan as a major non-Nato ally, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Thursday.

Mr Powell made the announcement in the Pakistani capital Islamabad after talks with Foreign Minister Mahmud Kasuri.

 

The designation of Pakistan as a major ally would strengthen defence co-operation between Islamabad and the US.

 

Mr Powell's visit coincides with a Pakistani operation against al-Qaeda and Taleban supporters in the area bordering Afghanistan.

 

 

The secretary of state is due to meet President Pervez Musharraf later on Thursday.

 

Praise

 

 

The status of "major non-Nato ally" would lift restrictions of weapon sales.

 

 

The government is going in for a decisive action

Pakistani official

Other such allies include Japan, Thailand, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan and Israel.

Mr Powell paid tribute to Pakistan's fight against terrorism.

 

He said US President George W Bush appreciated the "sacrifices" made by security forces.

 

The Pakistani military launched another operation on Thursday against al-Qaeda and Taleban suspects near its border with Afghanistan.

 

Eyewitnesses in Wana, headquarters of the semi-autonomous tribal region, said around a dozen military helicopters were taking part in the latest push.

 

A BBC correspondent in the nearby city of Peshawar says that officials admit the possibility that a top al-Qaeda leader could be in the area because of the extent of resistance that has so far been met.

 

Officials said military reinforcements have been sent to the besieged tribal region, two days after a clash between security forces and suspected Taleban and al-Qaeda militants.

 

Military officials say that the clashes on Tuesday left nearly 40 people dead, nearly half of them Pakistani forces. Civilians have been fleeing the border area.

 

However Mr Powell said more action against militants was needed.

 

Nuclear issue

 

 

 

"The government is going in for a decisive action," a government official told Reuters news agency

Pakistan is the third country of Mr Powell's South Asian tour, following India and Afghanistan.

 

He is also expected to raise the issue of nuclear proliferation.

 

 

In February, the scientist seen as the father of Pakistan's nuclear industry, Abdul Qadeer Khan, admitted selling nuclear secrets overseas.

 

Pakistan denied any state involvement and pardoned Dr Khan.

 

Mr Powell has said Washington will not be satisfied until the network responsible for the sales to Iran, Libya and North Korea is fully removed.

 

 

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/3522174.stm

 

Published: 2004/03/18 08:28:23 GMT

 

© BBC MMIV

Edited May 31, 2004 by Vigil