Pakistan seeks U.S. reassurance

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The United States needs to reassure Pakistan and Afghanistan on its "long-term vision" for the entire region, the Pakistani foreign minister said.

Speaking to reporters in Washington after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said mistakes were made in the past and lessons must be learned, Voice of America reported.

"The people of the region have to be reassured that the United States has a long-term vision, not just for Afghanistan and Pakistan, but the entire region," Qureshi said.

The foreign minister, who appeared with Clinton, did not comment on proposals to send more troops to Afghanistan. In their discussions, Clinton and Qureshi talked about the just approved five-year, $7.5 billion U.S. civilian aid program that would require Pakistan to end support for extremist groups and keep its military out of civilian politics, VOA said.

Clinton said the United States has no intention of interfering in Pakistan's internal affairs through the aid program, as some critics have suggested.

"We have in President Obama and Secretary Clinton two individuals who want to befriend Pakistan, the people of Pakistan," Qureshi said.

He said the United States should stay in Afghanistan the mission has achieved "a peaceful, stable Afghanistan. A peaceful, stable region," CNN reported.