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Thursday, November 10, 2011
Zardari promises to ‘eradicate’ Haqqanis* President tells American congressmen mutual understanding and greater interaction must to avoid any misunderstanding and negative impressions
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari promised to work with the United States to “eradicate” the Haqqani network, a pledge made during a meeting with visiting American congressmen, according to one of the lawmakers.
The head of the Homeland Security delegation, Michael McCaul, appeared to brush off threats that US aid spending to Pakistan could be significantly cut if Islamabad did not do more to squeeze insurgents like the Haqqanis. “I think he thinks it’s a given that we are going to continue the aid, but I tried to tell him that it’s in jeopardy,” McCaul, a Republican congressman from Texas, said of Zardari.
“He said, ‘I appreciate your assistance, but it’s trade more than aid that I need.’” McCaul and the visiting lawmakers met with Zardari in Karachi on Tuesday, and revealed details of his conversation later the same day.
Discussing Pak-US bilateral relations and recent developments, the president called for mutual understanding of each other’s point of view and need for greater interaction at all levels to avoid any misunderstanding and negative impressions that would potentially endanger close working relationship at this critical hour. President Zardari emphasised upon the need for both sides to exercise restraint and avoid uncalled for public criticism as it undermines efforts to stabilise the equation and working closely for shared goals.
He said the democratic dispensation of Pakistan believed in trade rather than aid as a solution to the weak and stressed economy. The president also called for expediting ROZs legislation, terming it crucial for creating economic opportunities particularly for the people of militancy-hit areas. About war against militancy and its impacts on Pakistan economy, the president said that combined affects of war against militancy and the recent natural calamities, have adversely impacted Pakistan economy thus restricting government efforts to provide economic relief to the people.
He said that under the prevailing situation, international assistance in various projects was critical. Discussing regional situation, the president reiterated Pakistan’s principled stance of its abiding interest in the stability of Afghanistan. He said Pakistan has always called for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution. He vowed Pakistan would continue to support all efforts, directed towards permanent peace, stability and development of Afghanistan.
The Haqqani network is an al Qaeda linked militant group with roots in eastern Afghanistan that has long been based in the Pakistani border region of North Waziristan. US and NATO officials say it is currently the most deadly foe in Afghanistan. The problem is especially acute because Washington is committed to withdrawing most of its combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Seeing the country fall back into the hands of the Taliban or descend into bloody civil war would be a crushing failure for Washington.
The US has been applying steady pressure on Pakistan to tackle the Haqqanis, but with little effect. Islamabad is widely believed to be reluctant to move against the Haqqanis. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk