Ex-Pak president Zardari questions US commitment to Pakistan's security needs

Former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari in a rare letter to the editor of the New York Times, has questioned the United States' commitment to the security needs of Pakistan.

Responding to a New York Times editorial which attacked Islamabad being a "duplicitous and dangerous" partner for Washington and Kabul , the PPP co-chairman, citing the struggle between Pakistan and the United States over the purchase of F-16 fighter jets emphasised how what once was a strong partnership allied against threats to the region was frayed.

"Despite our common security interests and a deep democratic kinship, there is ambiguity toward the bilateral relationship from officials in both countries. In Congress, there is outright opposition to supporting the fighter deal," the Express Tribune quoted him as saying.

Zardari wrote, "Pakistan has suffered repeated mass-casualty attacks by the Taliban and Al Qaeda, most recently in Lahore, where 74 were killed and 338 wounded. We are fighting for our lives."

He mentioned that members of Congress who were distrustful of Pakistan's commitment to fighting terrorists should come to the country and bear witness to Islamabad's solidarity and resolve.

Referring to the US State Department's upcoming visit to Pakistan, the Zardari said he hopes that the meeting will be used to assure that both nations' remains committed to supporting Islamabad's security needs.

Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani has earlier also slammed the New York Times editorial holding Pakistan responsible for the mess in Afghanistan.

"The May 12 editorial about Pakistan's role in Afghanistan is biased and negates the complex history of this prolonged conflict," said Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani.

He added that allegations of duplicity and double game were extremely painful as Pakistan has suffered the most due to war in Afghanistan.