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Thursday, June 09, 2011
Anti-terror cooperation with Pakistan in US interest: Toner
WASHINGTON: The US anti-terror cooperation with Pakistan is in American long-term security interest and the cooperative efforts between the two countries have yielded results, the State Department said on Wednesday. “What we are trying to do in Pakistan is to build democratic institutions, to improve Pakistan’s security, to help it face an existential threat from terrorism. And that is where our assistance is focused,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said at the daily briefing. “A strong, stable, peaceful, and prosperous Pakistan is in the interest of the region,” he said in response to a question by a journalist who questioned US assistance for Islamabad. The spokesman said he was not aware of any list of wanted terrorists, which the journalist suggested, was provided to Pakistan during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Islamabad. “Clearly, our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan has yielded results. We have talked about the fact that more terrorists have been killed on Pakistani soil over the years than anywhere else in the world and that were apprehended on Pakistani soil over the years. And that is indicative of our strong counterterrorism cooperation,” Toner said, stressing the importance of anti-terror cooperation. The spokesman noted that cooperation with Pakistan is in the long-term security interest of the US. “Have there been bumps in the road? Certainly. Did bin Laden’s location raise serious concerns? Of course, and we are addressing those concerns. But ultimately, counterterrorism cooperation, and indeed on a broader level cooperation with Pakistan, is in our nation’s long-term security interest.” Toner argued that the US relationship with Pakistan should not be seen as a zero-sum game vis-à-vis Washington’s ties with India. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk