U.S. to deepen energy ties with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Washington is broadening its bilateral relations with Pakistan to include energy issues.

The Pakistan Times Wire Service reported Thursday that the U.S. State Department's coordinator for international energy engagement, David Goldwyn, will head a government team visiting Pakistan for discussions with the President Asif Ali Zardari's government on energy policy and investment.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in a joint appearance with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Washington that the U.S. delegation will focus on alleviating Pakistan's chronic energy shortfalls, remarking, "Now, we are working together in all of these areas and others as partners. We share the same goal -- a peaceful and prosperous future for our people." Qureshi in turn lauded the secretary's remarks, calling the move "a forward step" in the growing Pakistani-U.S. partnership.

Clinton and Qureshi also discussed the five-year, $7.5 billion U.S. civilian aid program approved by the U.S. Congress last week. Despite the civilian nature of the program, the assistance would be conditional on Zardari's administration definitively ending support for extremist groups and its military remaining out of civilian politics.