Zardari seeks aid in extremist fight

TOKYO, April 17 (UPI) -- The president of Pakistan has called for a major aid drive similar to the U.S. Marshall Plan in Europe after World War II to fight poverty and militancy.

In Tokyo for a meeting of donors, Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan is determined to fight militancy "to the end" and will not allow extremists to "dictate their agenda on the people through guns and bullets." But, he said, "Clearly, we need massive international assistance."

The aid conference, hosted by the World Bank and Japan, is expected to raise up to $6 billion to help stabilize what is seen as a frontline state in the battle against extremism, Dawn, the Pakistani English-language newspaper, reported.

Zardari said since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and after U.S.-led forces attacked Afghanistan, Pakistan became the United States' "regional strategic ally" and had spent about $35 billion fighting extremists,

"Pakistan alone cannot bear the huge social and economic burden of this war,' the president said.