UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met President Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of the ongoing NATO summit here on Tuesday.
Ban’s spokesman told reporters that the “discussions focused on Afghanistan”.
He said the secretary general emphasised the importance of regional cooperation and Pakistan’s role in that.
“He encouraged the president to help as much as possible with Afghanistan’s reconciliation process,” said a readout.
They also discussed next month’s Rio+20 sustainable development conference, which is to be held in Brazil, said the readout.
Meanwhile, the secretary general thanked the president for Pakistan’s significant contribution to peacekeeping, it said.
Pakistan‚ US pledge to maintain ties based on joint goals: Sherry: President Asif Ali Zardari and US President Obama have pledged to maintain ties based on joint goals as well as broader contours of the relationship, Pakistan Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman said on Tuesday.
She said President Zardari told Obama that Pakistan had a constructive role to play for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Sherry quoted Zardari as saying Pakistan would be happy to play a facilitating role in NATO and ISAF drawdown as the international community moved to transition in Afghanistan.
She said NATO supply was suspended for many months and dialogues were in progress for its restoration. “Pakistan is firm over demand for an apology on the Salala incident,” she asserted.
The ambassador noted that later President Obama‚ in his remarks to the media‚ reiterated his support for democracy in Pakistan and joint security goals.
