President Zardari Leaves for three days visit to France: Whats on Card??

[True_Pakistan_Zindabad]

To me he is known as 1 %.

 

[GUNNER]

Is it true that Bilawal has officially changed his surname to Bhutto from Zardari?

Yes, it's true. Only in part. It was announced at the time when he was made Chairman of the party after his mother's death that hence forth he will be Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

 

[vsdoc]

Oh ok thanks man. Thats a very westernised hyphenation giving him the much needed pedigree-by-name for the near future looks like.

Cheers, Doc

 

[GUNNER]

Coalition Losing Afghan War: Zardari

PARIS, Aug 3, 2010 (AFP) - Coalition forces "are losing the war against the Taliban" in Afghanistan, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said in an interview published in France on Tuesday.

"The international community, to which Pakistan belongs, is losing the war against the Taliban. This is above all because we have lost the battle to win hearts and minds," he said. in comments published in French by Le Monde.

Zardari added that the US and NATO-led coalition forces had "underestimated the situation on the ground" in Afghanistan, Pakistan's neighbour.

His comments came after military documents leaked to the media pointed to alleged support by Pakistani officials for the Taliban. Zardari has insisted that Pakistan is committed to fighting militants in the region.

Since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan drove them from power in 2003, the Taliban have waged a fierce fight against international forces.

"I think they have no chance of regaining power, but their grip is strengthening," Zardari said of the hardline Islamist movement.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron angered Zardari by saying last week that Pakistan must not "look both ways" in secretly promoting violent extremism while pretending to seek regional stability.

Zardari vowed to tackle the allegations head on when he meets Cameron on Friday at the British leader's country retreat outside London.

"The war against terrorism must unite us and not oppose us," Zardari told Le Monde. "I will explain face to face that it is my country that is paying the highest price in human life for this war."

 

[khurasaan1]

Doesn't Zardari mean a person whose ancestors did Zarde ka business?

Sindhi are really good businessmen.

U making good jokes out of him...

 

[Arsalan]

Pakistan is keen on a "serious and substantive engagement" with France in civil nuclear cooperation, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday. Zardari, currently on an official visit to France, made the remarks during a meeting with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, an official statement said.

Zardari also called for the early establishment of a framework for a strategic dialogue between the two sides.

Pakistan has stepped up efforts to gain access to civil nuclear technology since its rival India concluded a landmark deal with the US a few years ago.

It has urged the world community to adopt a "non-discriminatory" approach in civil nuclear cooperation.

Zardari is on his second visit to France in 14 months and had raised the issue of civil nuclear cooperation during his last visit too.

During his talks with Sarkozy, Zardari sought the establishment of a ministerial-level Joint Economic Commission, aggressive support for preferential access to EU markets and parliamentary exchanges to deepen political understanding between the two countries.

The President also called for "massive international assistance" to help Pakistan cope with the situation arising out of floods that had washed away hundreds of villages and killed hundreds of people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar quoted Zardari as saying that Pakistan attached great importance to ongoing defence cooperation with France, including the upgrade of Agosta submarines.

Zardari also stressed the need to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries.

Referring to Pakistan's campaign against militancy, Zardari said his government "had built political consensus and given ownership to the war against terror" even as the country paid a "huge cost in terms of human and material losses".

It was "unfortunate if some people continued to express doubts and misgivings about our will and determination to fight the militants to the finish", he said.

"Such misgivings will only undermine the international effort against militants and extremists," he said.

Pakistan's efforts and contributions have not been matched by international support, he added.

The meeting was also attended by Zardari's son and Pakistan People's Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.

Zardari will meet Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner tomorrow before leaving France on Tuesday evening for a four-day visit to Britain, during which he will meet Prime Minister David Cameron

i cannt say much about the nuclear deal at this point of time but for the cooperation in Agosta Subs:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Agosta submarines designed by DCN (now DCNS) of France, are currently in service with the French, Spanish and Pakistan navies. The Agosta 90B is an improved version featuring higher performance and a new combat system.

The new submarine features a higher level of automation, which has resulted in the ship's crew being reduced from 54 to 36. Other improvements include a new battery for increased range, a deeper diving capability of 350m resulting from the use of new materials including HLES 80 steel, and a reduced acoustic signature through the installation of new suspension and isolation systems.

Three Agosta 90Bs were ordered by the Pakistan Navy in September 1994. The first, Khalid (S137), was built at DCN’s Cherbourg yard and was commissioned in 1999. The second, Saad, assembled at Karachi Naval Dockyard, was launched in August 2002 and was commissioned in December 2003. The third, Hamza, which has been constructed and assembled in Karachi, was launched in August 2006 and was commissioned in September 2008.

"The Agosta 90B is an improved version of the Agosta submarine, featuring higher performance and a new combat system."Work on the vessel was halted for a time following a terrorist attack in May 2002, which killed 11 French engineers in Karachi. The third submarine is fitted with the MESMA air independent propulsion system.

The third submarine is being fitted with the MESMA air-independent propulsion system, which will be retrofitted to the first two. The MESMA AIP has successfully completed Pakistan Navy acceptance trials.

In March 2007, Pakistan placed an order with DCNS for the retrofit of the MESMA AIP to the first two Khalid Class submarines. The retrofit kits will be delivered to the Karachi dockyard in 2011.

Pakistan has been given a license by DCNS to offer commercial production of the submarines to potential customers.

regards!

 

[Arsalan]

Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Zardari, Sarkozy hold talks
PARIS: Pakistan and France on Monday moved closer to initiating a framework for strategic dialogue focussing on increased interaction in political, trade and defence areas besides upgrading their defence and security ties.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who met his French counterpart Nicholas Sarkozy here at his official residence, also agreed to closer cooperation in jointly fighting extremism and terrorism.

The president was supported during the talks by Minister for Defence Ch Ahmad Mukhtar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. The two leaders reviewed the whole gamut of relations between Pakistan and France, besides discussing regional and international issues.

The two sides also agreed to have a joint economic commission to boost their economic and trade ties. The president said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with France and stressed comprehensive up-gradation of bilateral ties with enhanced trade, investments, sustainable market access and deeper mutual cooperation in other areas that could prove beneficial for both the countries.

The two leaders noted that their countries could move further closer with an increased interaction between their private sectors that would generate economic activity and would be in the long-term interests of their two peoples.

President Zardari also stressed the need for expanding of defence and security ties and said it would help the country in its ongoing military operation against terrorism.

Besides reviewing the Pakistan-France bilateral relations, the two leaders also discussed the role Pakistan was playing against extremists and terrorists and its efforts to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and the region.

The French president reaffirmed his support to democracy in Pakistan and appreciated the progress the country had made in this regard.

President Sarkozy emphasised the necessity for Pakistan to pursue its efforts against the Taliban extremism and other terrorist groups. He underscored France’s readiness to enhance its cooperation with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.

President Sarkozy noted the huge sacrifices that Pakistan’s security forces and its people had rendered to make the region and the world a safer place to live. France also assured Pakistan of enhancing cooperation in the fight against terrorism and urged it to continue to pursue its efforts against extremist and terrorist elements.

President Zardari apprised his French counterpart of the areas where the two sides could cooperate and sought investments in the areas of energy, infrastructure, defence and agriculture.

President Zardari was earlier received by President Nicolas Sarkozy and presented a guard of honour. The president also discussed with Sarkozy Pakistan’s energy situation and said there was a vast scope for investment in renewable energy like solar, wind, coal, etc, to help the country meet its energy shortfall.

He appreciated France’ role within the framework of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan since its creation and had pledged a Euro 300 million assistance package, spread over three years at the Tokyo Donors Conference of April 17 last year.

He said his country was eagerly looking forward to President Sarkozy’s visit to Pakistan and added that it would help in expansion of their multifaceted bilateral relationship. He said under the dynamic leadership of President Nicolas Sarkozy, the relations between the two countries had deepened in political, economic, cultural and defence fields.

President Sarkozy also expressed grief over the deaths in a plane crash and the heavy flooding in parts of Pakistan. He expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their hour of trial. Later, in a brief chat with reporters, President Zardari said he had an in-depth discussion with the French president, covering all the areas, including terrorism. He said: “President Sarkozy promised to visit Pakistan soon and we will welcome him there.”

every thing seem to be on track uptill now,,,
i mean no defence deal....

Thanks God!!

regards!

 

[su-47]

Coalition Losing Afghan War: Zardari

PARIS, Aug 3, 2010 (AFP) - Coalition forces "are losing the war against the Taliban" in Afghanistan, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said in an interview published in France on Tuesday.

"The international community, to which Pakistan belongs, is losing the war against the Taliban. This is above all because we have lost the battle to win hearts and minds," he said. in comments published in French by Le Monde.

Zardari added that the US and NATO-led coalition forces had "underestimated the situation on the ground" in Afghanistan, Pakistan's neighbour.

His comments came after military documents leaked to the media pointed to alleged support by Pakistani officials for the Taliban. Zardari has insisted that Pakistan is committed to fighting militants in the region.

Since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan drove them from power in 2003, the Taliban have waged a fierce fight against international forces.

"I think they have no chance of regaining power, but their grip is strengthening," Zardari said of the hardline Islamist movement.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron angered Zardari by saying last week that Pakistan must not "look both ways" in secretly promoting violent extremism while pretending to seek regional stability.

Zardari vowed to tackle the allegations head on when he meets Cameron on Friday at the British leader's country retreat outside London.

"The war against terrorism must unite us and not oppose us," Zardari told Le Monde. "I will explain face to face that it is my country that is paying the highest price in human life for this war."

well i laud the attempt by Zardari. Instead of backing away or showing too much anger, he is actually going to try and resolve the issue. It is this kind of attitude that is needed, where the head of state actually goes to tackle the problem head on. if he manages to make Cameron apologise or at least concede that he was too harsh with his statements, it would be a diplomatic victory for Pakistan.

to my pakistani friends: whether u like him or not, Zardari is the president of your nation. Don't u think you should show him some support when he goes to resolve an issue, rather than continuously blaming him?

 

[fatman17]

as far as his visit goes - a big fat nothing happened - he went there to show his 'villa' to his children.

 

[Areesh]

well i laud the attempt by Zardari. Instead of backing away or showing too much anger, he is actually going to try and resolve the issue. It is this kind of attitude that is needed, where the head of state actually goes to tackle the problem head on. if he manages to make Cameron apologise or at least concede that he was too harsh with his statements, it would be a diplomatic victory for Pakistan.

to my pakistani friends: whether u like him or not, Zardari is the president of your nation. Don't u think you should show him some support when he goes to resolve an issue, rather than continuously blaming him?

We would support him in that case. But the fact is that he is their to show his villa in France to his children. To prepare his son to become the next ruler of our country. His visit is about his own vested interests rather than of country.

 

[super_man]

Zardari is a cool president. Otherwise how can he visit foreign country when
floods in NW, 40 ppl died in karachi, foreign country PM said terrorist exporter.

He knows that chest thumping will get any $$. He can't return with empty hand.

Lets see how he plays his card.

 

[Areesh]

Zardari is a cool president. Otherwise how can he visit foreign country when
floods in NW, 40 ppl died in karachi, foreign country PM said terrorist exporter.

He knows that chest thumping will get any $$. He can't return with empty hand.

Lets see how he plays his card.

You can take this COOL president. Pakistan and people of Pakistan don't need him.

 

[super_man]

You can take this COOL president. Pakistan and people of Pakistan don't need him.

If Zardari is not president, pakistan would have been bankrupt. He made countless trips to IMF/world bank to get much needed AID.

 

[Arsalan]

as far as his visit goes - a big fat nothing happened - he went there to show his 'villa' to his children.

well sir, on a serious note, dont you think it will be good for us if " a big fat nothing" do happen!!

i mean, i was looking that there were two possible defence deals and for both of them i prayed that they do not happen as it would have damaged the military intrests.

regards!

 

[fatman17]

as far as his visit goes - a big fat nothing happened - he went there to show his 'villa' to his children.

President visits French chateau

MESNIL-LIEUBRAY: President Asif Ali Zardari visited his family’s stately home in the French countryside on Tuesday.

A French Air Force helicopter deposited Zardari in the grounds of the Manoir de la Reine Blanche (Manor of the White Queen) for a two-hour stopover in the 16th-century chateau, built for the widow of King Philippe VI. Journalists were kept at a distance from the elegant property, which is surrounded by five acres of lakes and wooded parkland and is listed on France’s register of historically significant monuments. The house has belonged to Zardari’s family for 24 years and the president’s father, Hakim Ali Zardari, is a regular summer visitor. “He’s a neighbour with whom we have excellent relations,” said local mayor Jerome Grisel, who owns a farm immediately adjoining the estate. afp