Strategy against terrorism to be further strengthened: foreign office

The two-pronged strategy to check the rise of fundamentalism and terrorism that was in effect during President Musharraf's regime, focused primarily on using military option and socio-economic development, will be further strengthened by a more proactive approach towards negotiations with the tribals, sources in the Foreign Office told Business Recorder on Saturday.
They said that the critical difference between the present and the former government was related to the democracy dividend--while Musharraf did not represent the people, the present government is popularly elected. Foreign Ministry sources said that the strategy may be further refined after President Zardari's visit to the United States, scheduled for September 21 to 27.
As far as the operation in tribal areas is concerned, Pakistan Army is actively addressing the situation and wiping out terrorists' hideouts to bring normalcy to the tribal belt while vowing that no outside interference is required as it is more a war of Pakistan than of US, sources added.
President Zardari left for London via Dubai on a private visit along with his daughters, as Bakhtawar would start her University career there. In England, Zardari will also meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and discuss with him regional and bilateral issues with particular reference to tension on the western borders of Pakistan.
Commenting on reports that the President should have paid his first visit to China, as announced in his first press conference after taking oath of office, sources opined that China is aware of the President's compulsions, and China-Pakistan friendship is too deep-rooted to be affected by the delay in the visit.
Sources in Xinhua Chinese News Agency sad that the Chinese authorities were not happy over the change of President Zardari's visit schedule, though the Chinese authorities were aware that President Zardari had gone to England to fulfil his obligations as a father, and that the visit to the US was linked to his address to the UN General Assembly session, which cannot be altered.
President Zardari will return from the UK on September 19 and address the joint sitting of parliament on September 20. On September 21 he will leave for the United States to attend the 63rd session of UN General Assembly and will also hold talks with the Bush administration on a range of issues plaguing relations between the two countries in recent months, including the US attacks inside Pakistani territory.