Reposted from The Baloch Hal | August 6, 2011 | Ambassador Concerned Over Missing Persons in Balochistan

QUETTA: US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter on Thursday showed his concern about missing persons in Balochistan and said the province was very significant for the United States.

In meetings with the provincial chief minister, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisan, and Speaker Balochistan Assembly, Mohamaad Aslam Bhootani, Mr. Munter said that issue of missing person can lead to several problems in the country.

CM Raisani in the meeting with the ambassador at the Chief Minister Secretariate categorically rejected media reports about the presence of Taiban's elusive leader Mullah Omar and al-Qadida leader Aiman Al-Zawahiri in Balochistan and denied if Quetta Shura exists at all. The chief minister informed the US ambassador that overall law and order situation in the province was completely stable and under the control of law enforcement agencies.

The ambassador showed keen interest in the development of Balochistan, saying the US would provide technical and other help in various sectors identified by the government of Balochistan. The chief minister identified several sectors on spur of the moment - communications, health, education, technical education, manpower development and agriculture.

The ambassador maintained that the US government was aware of the suffering of the people of Balochistan and was extending cooperation in fields such as education and health to benefit the people of the province.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Munter had announced Rs 8.6 million for the construction of two houses in the SoS village in Quetta, which comprises five houses and is host to 70 orphans. The amount will be spent on setting up two more houses in the village.

Mr. Munter assured of his support for decomcary in the country. He reiterated that he was very optimistic regarding Pakistan-US ties despite disagreements between the two countries on various issues.