“Deeper cooperation” with Pak to quell terror on both sides of border key to success: Obama
By ANITuesday, August 3, 2010
WASHINGTON - Amidst growing discontent over Pakistan’s covert support to the Taliban and other extremists, which was laid bare by the leaked Afghan war classified documents, US President Barack Obama has said that “deeper cooperation” with Islamabad to root out terrorists on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border, was the key to success in the ‘war on terror’.
Addressing a gathering in Atlanta, Georgia, Obama underlined that “deeper cooperation with Pakistan” was one of the main components the strategy that he announced last year to defeat militants on both sides of the Afghan border.
While acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts against extremists, Obama reaffirmed the White House’s policy to dismantle the Al-Qaeda led terror nexus in the region and beyond.
“In this region and beyond, we will tolerate no safe for Al-Qaeda and their extremist allies. We will disrupt, dismantle, and ultimately defeat Al-Qaeda. And we will give our troops the resources and equipment to get the job done and keep our country safe,” The News quoted Obama, as saying.
Obama also noted that the US’ strategy in the region includes a “military effort to break the Taliban’s momentum, training Afghan forces so they can take the lead for security, and a civilian component to promote good governance and development that improves the lives of the Afghan people.”
“In addition it includes deeper cooperation with Pakistan to root out terrorists on both sides of the border. We face huge challenges in Afghanistan. But it’s important that the American people know that we are making progress and were focused on goals that are clear and achievable,” he added.
Obama also highlighted that his administration was working with the Afghan government to establish peace in the war torn country by carrying out developmental work and also fight deep-rooted corruption.
“On the civilian front, were insisting on greater accountability, and the Afghan government has taken concrete steps to foster development; to combat corruption; and to put forward a reintegration plan that allows Afghans to lay down their arms,” he said. (ANI)
