United States Praises Pakistani Actions Against Extremists
Washington - The Obama administration's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan praised the actions of Pakistan's government and military, saying military operations and apprehensions of leading Afghan Taliban figures inside Pakistan are contributing to efforts to remove Taliban fighters from the battlefield through reintegration.
"I just want to express my appreciation to the Pakistani government and its army for what it's doing," Ambassador Richard Holbrooke told reporters in Washington March 2. He mentioned the military offensives in Swat and South Waziristan, as well as the recent capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar ( http://www.america.gov/st/peacesec-english/2010/February/20100217172444esnamfuak0.4922754.html ) and other senior Afghan Taliban figures who have been living in Pakistan.
"They're doing these things in the face of enormous, overwhelming economic problems," including water and energy supplies. "We, in turn, are trying to increase our support for the Pakistanis," he said.
Holbrooke said that anecdotal information suggests that the Pakistani activities, along with operations in central Helmand province by Afghan security personnel and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), are causing some Taliban fighters to consider renouncing violence and returning to civilian life under the authority of the Afghan government.
"ISAF is reporting more and more people contacting them and saying, 'We want to talk about separate peace arrangements,'" Holbrooke said. "It isn't clearly quantifiable [but] it's logical to assume it's happening," he said.
"These are positive events, and they should be welcomed by anybody who opposes extremism and terrorism," he added.
U.S. relations with Pakistan's government and military are "much better today than they were 13 months ago" when the Obama administration began, he said.
According to a March 1 media note ( http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/03/137530.htm ) released by the State Department, Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province Elite Force received eight armored personnel carriers and surveillance equipment from the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. The vehicles, as well as equipment such as night vision binoculars, global positioning systems and solar panels, will support the force's actions against violent extremists, according to the note.
The note said U.S. civilian law enforcement assistance to Pakistan totaled $49.5 million in 2009, including funds for equipping, training and rehabilitation of police facilities.
The Obama administration says it also welcomes the recent restoration of dialogue between Pakistan and India. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley ( http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/02/137308.htm ) commended the leadership of both countries February 25, saying, "It was a courageous step to open the door to dialogue again," after previous efforts were disrupted by the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
"We certainly hope that both countries will build on this dialogue in the weeks and months ahead," Crowley said.
Holbrooke said both India and Pakistan have "legitimate security interests" in Afghanistan and in the region and that the United States is seeking to improve its relations with both.
"In New Delhi and in Islamabad, people come up to us and say, 'Oh, you're pro the other country. You're favoring one country over another.' That's not true," he said.
"Improved relations with one country is not at the expense of the other," he said. "By improving relations in both countries, we can move forward a general search for peace and stability in the region."
