By APP
Washington : Voicing confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to deal with violent extremism, the White House on Thursday said the United States will work hand-in-hand with the South Asian ally on the best way to combat extremists.
Spokesman Gordon Johndroe acknowledged the new Pakistani government’s resolve to curb extremism and also noted that various political leaders in the country have different ideas about the best way to handle the problem.
He told reporters that President Bush had a very good telephonic conversation with the new Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, and added the Pakistani leader reiterated the new government’s commitment to fight against extremism.
“I know that there are various political parties and leaders in Pakistan. They have different ideas about the best way to handle this, and we’re going to work hand-in-hand with the Pakistan authorities on the best way to go after the extremists.”
He said the Pakistanis understand that the “extremists are trying to derail democracy in Pakistan, just as much as they—as many are using some areas to plot and plan attacks.”
“So we have a common enemy in these extremists. I’m confident that the Pakistani authorities will continue to take this issue seriously because they’ve said that. Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Boucher are there now, having good meetings, having discussions with the leaders, and I’m confident we’ll be able to work together on the way forward.”
He declined to comment on claims made in a story in The Washington Post Thursday regarding unilateral strikes against terrorists that may be hiding on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border. The Pakistani officials told the newspaper it is only for the Pakistani forces to carry out actions against terrorists on its soil.
“We have always said that as for strikes, that is for Pakistani forces to do and for the Pakistani government to decide. . . . We do not envision a situation in which foreigners will enter Pakistan and chase targets,” Farhatullah Babar, a top spokesman for Pakistan Peoples Party heading the new coalition government, said.
“This war on terror is our war,” he added, according to the Post.
The newspaper also quoted a spokesman of PML (N) saying Pakistan cannot afford a counterterrorism policy that inflicts a war on its soil. “There’s no way Pakistan can afford to follow a policy that is causing a war at home,” said Khawaja Imran Raza, a senior spokesman for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N faction. “There’s a need to revisit the policy and there’s a need to reassess because the domestic cost is so huge. We have lost a prime minister—our top opposition leader. We have lost generals, and just look at our losses in Lahore.”
Meanwhile, a tribal leader underlined the importance of traditional jirga system in addressing militancy in the Afghan border region.
“We told the visiting U.S. guests that the traditional jirga [tribal decision-making] system should be made effective to eliminate the causes of militancy and other problems from the tribal areas,” said Malik Darya Khan, an elder.
“The tribal turmoil can be resolved only through negotiations, not with military operations,” Khan added.