PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD: US Special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.

President Zardari urged the United States to consider the early repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqi in line with the prisoners’ exchange treaty.

The president said Pakistan would provide legal assistance to Dr. Aafia during her trial in the US court.

He also called for immediate release of USD1.5 billion to Pakistan on account of the Coalition Support Fund. Pakistan had suffered huge human and financial losses because of war against terrorism, said Zardari.

He further said that US-led allies should help the Pakistani government so that it could live up to the expectations of people.

Zardari stressed that removal of Pakistan from the list of countries whose nationals had been designated for screening at the US airports and repatriation of Aafia Siddiqi could help improve the US image in Pakistan.