Pakistan gets a visit from the enforcer
James Jones | 27.02.2007 03:54
PR. NO. 199.
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad, February 26, 2007
President General Pervez Musharraf has said that the international community was collectively responsible for defeating the scourge of terrorism and curbing the militant activities inside Afghanistan.
Talking to US Vice President Dick Cheney who flew into the capital this morning, President Musharraf said Pakistan has done the maximum in the fight against terrorism, but stressed that joint efforts were needed for achieving the desired objectives.
President Musharraf expressed concern on the proposed discriminatory legislation regarding US aid to Pakistan and the need to remove misperceptions being created by the Western media about the country’s vital efforts in the fight against terrorism.
During meeting lasting over two hours, the President emphasized that most of the Taliban activities originated from Afghanistan and the solution of the issue also lies within that country. The President emphasized that Pakistan was a victim of the spill over of Taliban influence in the FATA and in Afghan Refugee Camps in Balochistan.
The President underlined that Pakistan, Afghanistan, US forces, NATO and ISAF will have to take the joint responsibility of stopping illegal crossings along the over 2300 km long border in an inhospitable terrain. He said Pakistan has deployed over 80,000 troops and set up 1000 check posts along the porous border in contrast to only 100 posts on the Afghan side.
The US Vice President appreciating Pakistan’s pivotal role in the fight against terrorism underscored that sustainable mutually beneficial multifaceted ties should be further augmented.
Cheney expressed US apprehensions of regrouping of Al-Qaeda in the tribal areas and called for concerted efforts in countering the threat. He expressed serious US concerns on the intelligence being picked up of an impending Taliban and Al-Qaeda “spring offensive” against allied forces in Afghanistan.
About the peace agreement with tribal elders in North Waziristan the President said it was the way forward. President Musharraf said that political, administrative steps taken in the tribal areas would help curb-Al-Qaeda and Taliban activities and avert any Talibanization in the area. He stressed the need for weaning away the majority of moderates away from the militants and that could only be achieved through intensified economic activities coupled with strong administrative and political measures.
The President also called for swift setting up of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZS) in FATA to generate more economic activity for job creation and poverty reduction which, he added would strike at the core of extremism and terrorism.
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad, February 26, 2007
President General Pervez Musharraf has said that the international community was collectively responsible for defeating the scourge of terrorism and curbing the militant activities inside Afghanistan.
Talking to US Vice President Dick Cheney who flew into the capital this morning, President Musharraf said Pakistan has done the maximum in the fight against terrorism, but stressed that joint efforts were needed for achieving the desired objectives.
President Musharraf expressed concern on the proposed discriminatory legislation regarding US aid to Pakistan and the need to remove misperceptions being created by the Western media about the country’s vital efforts in the fight against terrorism.
During meeting lasting over two hours, the President emphasized that most of the Taliban activities originated from Afghanistan and the solution of the issue also lies within that country. The President emphasized that Pakistan was a victim of the spill over of Taliban influence in the FATA and in Afghan Refugee Camps in Balochistan.
The President underlined that Pakistan, Afghanistan, US forces, NATO and ISAF will have to take the joint responsibility of stopping illegal crossings along the over 2300 km long border in an inhospitable terrain. He said Pakistan has deployed over 80,000 troops and set up 1000 check posts along the porous border in contrast to only 100 posts on the Afghan side.
The US Vice President appreciating Pakistan’s pivotal role in the fight against terrorism underscored that sustainable mutually beneficial multifaceted ties should be further augmented.
Cheney expressed US apprehensions of regrouping of Al-Qaeda in the tribal areas and called for concerted efforts in countering the threat. He expressed serious US concerns on the intelligence being picked up of an impending Taliban and Al-Qaeda “spring offensive” against allied forces in Afghanistan.
About the peace agreement with tribal elders in North Waziristan the President said it was the way forward. President Musharraf said that political, administrative steps taken in the tribal areas would help curb-Al-Qaeda and Taliban activities and avert any Talibanization in the area. He stressed the need for weaning away the majority of moderates away from the militants and that could only be achieved through intensified economic activities coupled with strong administrative and political measures.
The President also called for swift setting up of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZS) in FATA to generate more economic activity for job creation and poverty reduction which, he added would strike at the core of extremism and terrorism.
James Jones
