International community needs to help Pakistan fight militancy; Zardari

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18 (Pakistan Daily News): President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday said Pakistan needs a marshal plan to fight militancy through socio economic development, education and employment. Talking to Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Advisor to David Cameron the shadow British Minister on National Security, the President said international community needs to devise a marshall plan for building Pakistan’s capability to fight the militants through a massive programme in under-developed tribal areas and rest of the country.
He said that more than half of over 170 million people of the country were young men and women under the age of 25 years with expectations to enter into a productive job market.
He said their frustration with the current socio economic and unemployment situation was a breeding ground for social unrest and militancy in the country.
Matters pertaining to bilateral relations and situation in the region came under discussion in the meeting that was also attended by Robert Brinkley, High Commissioner UK and Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary.
Pauline Jones said that Pakistan’s response to Mumbai attack was encouraging.
The British High Commissioner Brinkley said that inspite of worldwide recession and economic downturn the UK had decided to fulfill its commitment to double the development assistance for Pakistan.