Islamic extremism, not India is Pak's enemy No.1: Lieberman

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 22 (PTI) Islamic extremism, not India
is Pakistan's enemy No 1 and this needs to be understood very
clearly by the establishment in Islamabad, a powerful US
Senator has said.

"Pakistanis have to understand that their major enemy
in the region is no longer India, but it's Islamist extremism.
In fact, they have a common enemy in that with the Indians,"
said Senator Joseph Lieberman in his interaction at the
Council on Foreign Relations, an American think-tank.

Lieberman, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs, said it is difficult to convince the
Pakistani establishment. "That's a tough sell," he said.

Responding to questions, Senator Lieberman reiterated
that any new aid to Pakistan needs to be conditional and
linked to its success in the fight against terrorism.

"I think we're trying to come to a point where we
essentially -- it's another one of those more for more
exchanges. We will help you more -- including financially --
if you will do more to increase the capacity of your
government to deliver for your people, to break continuing
ties between ISI and the Taliban," he said.

The Senator said that Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari has taken some steps that are quite encouraging in a
progressive way. "It's quite interesting that he's well
regarded by the leadership of neighbouring countries like
Afghanistan and India," he said.

The Senator disagreed that Pakistan would be taken
over by the Islamic extremists. He, however, expressed concern
over the deal with the Taliban militants in the Swat Valley,
which has been taken over by the extremist forces.

"I worry about the accommodation going on to this
element. I don't think in the long run it works for the
current leadership of Pakistan, our allies, nor does it work
for the people of Pakistan and it certainly don't work for
us," he said.

However, given the rapid rise of Islamic militancy, he
said the stakes are high in Pakistan, because they're a
nuclear power. "They represent a critical role in that region
and what's happening there is very alarming," he said. PTI LKJ
RAI
NNNN