Frater Sits Down With Leaders of Pakistan

He expressed these views in a meeting with Saleem Saifullah Khan, federal minister for inter-provincial coordination. They discussed mutual ties, war on terror, and international issues including Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Frater Crocker said that terrorism was a big menace for the entire world and Pakistan had played an important role as a frontline ally in the war on terror. He hailed President Musharraf's role in this regard. He said that America had always taken care of the necessities of Pakistan in the past and would continue this support in the future.

He expressed the hope that impartial elections would be held in 2007.

"Fair and transparent elections can help maintain true democracy," Crocker said.

Saleem Saifullah underlined the need for chalking out policies at the international level that could put an end to the injustice and could trace the root causes of terrorism. Referring to the Kashmir and Palestine issues, he said that the people were disappointed.

"Coping with terrorism is difficult until people are given their rights in line with their aspirations," Saifullah said.

The federal minister told the Ambassador that there is true democracy in Pakistan, the parliament exists and media is free. He hoped that ties between Pakistan and America would be further strengthened.

Frater Ryan Crocker was confirmed as Ambassador to Pakistan in October 2004. He served previously as the International Affairs Advisor at the National War College, where he joined the faculty in 2003. From May to August 2003, he was in Baghdad as the first Director of Governance for the Coalition Provisional Authority.

He grew up in an Air Force family, attending schools in Morocco, Canada and Turkey, as well as the U.S. He received a B.A. in English in 1971 and an honorary Doctorate of Law degree in 2001 from Whitman College (Washington). He is married to Christine Barnes, a retired Foreign Service secretary. They met in Baghdad in 1979.

Ambassador Crocker received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 1994, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service in 1997 and the Presidential Meritorious Service Award in 1999 and 2003. He also holds the State Department Distinguished Honor Award, Award for Valor, three Superior Honor Awards and the American Foreign Service Association Rivkin Award. In January 2002, he was sent to Afghanistan to reopen the American Embassy in Kabul. He subsequently received the Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award for "exceptional courage and leadership" in Afghanistan. In September 2004, President Bush conferred on him the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the Foreign Service.

Adapted from U.S. Department of State Press Release.