A new grouping of global and regional powers on Friday pledged support for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and efforts to build a stable democracy, dpa reported.
World leaders and foreign ministers of the so-called "Friends of Pakistan" group, which includes the United States, EU members and Middle Eastern nations, held their first meeting Friday on the sidelines of an annual United Nations summit in New York.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said he welcomed the support and hoped the group would be made permanent. Its next meeting was set for next month in Abu Dhabi, he said.a