Pakistan has spent $80b fighting militants: President Zardari

The Express Tribune

President Asif Ali Zardari , in his inaugural address to the 6th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference in Islamabad, stated that Pakistan has been the victim of terrorism for far too long, having spent nearly $80 billion on the constant battle against militant groups. Zardari cited drug trafficking as the financial source of militancy. He calls upon the SAARC countries to assist Pakistan in the fight against heroin and other drugs being smuggled into the country. “Heroin was developed as a war weapon,” said Zardari in his address. The President also called on the SAARC countries to help promote democracy in the region. Greater participation of women in SAARC Agendas for the SAARC’s female parliamentarians’ stability and economic development in the region were finalized at the conference. Dr Fehmida Mirza chaired a meeting in which a joint statement was finalized and it was agreed upon that the expansion of the SAARC platform would allow women to play a greater role in the association. SAARC speakers and parliamentarians visited the Parliament House in Islamabad and have declared Dr Mirza as the Chairperson of the 6th SAARC conference. The Vice Chairperson has been selected as a representative from Maldives, where the speakers have agreed upon to hold the next annual SAARC conference.