This Article is From Jun 18, 2009

Brussels: EU, Pak hold first ever summit

Brussels: The European Union and Pakistan held their first ever summit in Brussels. The fight against terrorism and deepening trade links topped the agenda and the EU promised 100 million dollars aid for internally displaced people in areas where Pakistan is engaged in a military offensive against the Taliban.

In Brussels during the EU Pakistan summit, the Pakistani foreign minister talking about the meeting between PM and President Zardari said that it was a positive thing that it happened.

He said however that more steps will have to be taken in future in terms of cooperation from both sides before the two countries can actually re-engage on the political level.

When asked if terrorism is priority for Pakistan and also for Indo-Pak talks, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, "well, terrorism is one of the issues. We have a larger agenda than that and one would like to go beyond that as well."

In Brussels, in the EU Pakistan summit the focus may have been Pakistan's fight against terrorism on its own territory but Indo-Pak relations were also discussed.

It was acknowledged that Pakistan's peaceful co-existence with India was being threatened by terrorism and Pakistan needs to normalise its ties with India.

As for President Zardari, it was a pat on the back from the EU for the military efforts on in Pakistan and also promises for more aid and better trade ties for the future.

.