Pak-US ties have worsened in last 15 years, says Zardari

DUBAI (Staff Report) - Former President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday that Pak-US ties have worsened in the last 15 years, indicating that America's recent decision to block a subsidy for Pakistan to purchase American-made F-16's was evidence of the tensions between both countries.

In a statement issued to media, Zardari said that bilateral ties of Pakistan and United States had, at one point in history, witnessed an upward trajectory due to joint threats posed by Russia and non-state actors.

However, now with all such dangers gone, the ties between both countries had slumped, he added.

The former president said that Pakistan had emerged as a strong democratic country in the region by attaining peace and development, however the Taliban were again gaining strength in Afghanistan.

He urged the US government to cooperate with Pakistan and take this partnership to new heights.

I hope that the US State Department officials who are currently in Pakistan for meetings with Pakistani officials will utilize this opportunity and assure Islamabad that Washington will continue supporting our security needs, he said.