Pakistan wants U.S. soldiers to stay put on their soil

The U.S. government is now debating whether to withdraw or not, to add or not up to additional 40,000 more troops in Afghanistan.

While the debates goes on, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood QureshiShah Mehmood Qureshi met with the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton last Tuesday to urge the U.S. government to prolong the vision of helping not only Afghanistan and Pakistan but their entire region in fighting terrorism. The Pakistani minister said that Pakistan made great stride in fighting terrorism and plead not to withdraw U.S. troops in Afghanistan. He added that the American government did help the Afghan forces to drive out Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1989. He believes that this time, they can drive out Taliban and other evil forces like terrorists in their homeland. This, according to Qureshi, should be kept in mind because we should not forget the thing of the past, history might repeat itself and we cannot take the risk of it.

When the foreign minister was asked how long he wants U.S. troops to stay put in Pakistan, he said until the job is done, until Afghanistan become peaceful and stable, until the entire region become peaceful and stable.

With this words, Secretary Clinton said the United States and Pakistan enjoyed each others company, shared a "broad strategic partnership" which according to her is "critically important for the security and prosperity of both nations".

Whatever the outcome of the debate is, both Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert GatesDefense Secretary Robert Gates said they have a commitment in assuring long-standing relationship to both Afghanistan and Pakistan.