ID :
59778
Sat, 05/09/2009 - 19:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/59778
The shortlink copeid
Pak ready to shift troops from Indian border to fight Taliban
Lalit K Jha
Washington, May 9 (PTI) Under pressure from the US,
President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday said Pakistan is ready to
shift some of its troops from the Indian border to its western
frontier to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists.
The US has been pressing Pakistan to step up its
offensive against the Taliban but Islamabad has been reluctant
to move troops from the eastern border as it considers India
as its main threat.
US President Barack Obama, who met Zardari here, has
been trying to convince Pakistan that such a belief is
"misguided" and that the terrorists inside the country pose
the most serious threat to its security and safety.
"Let me tell you that we have moved some more (troops)
recently because the action asked for it. If need be, we will
move more," Zardari told the popular Charlie Rose Show on PBS
Saturday when asked about the US request in this regard.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai also appeared on the show.
"It was the demand based proposition, when the demand
goes up, we shift. Whenever we have to move, we will have to
move from that (Indian) border towards this (Afghan border),"
Zardari said.
Zardari's comments came after the US said it continues
to be concerned over the situation in Pakistan. Washington
also voiced skepticism over assurances given by Zardari to
Obama on the Taliban issue and made it clear that the country
needs to "do more" to meet the threat.
Asked about the perceived threat from India, Zardari
said the Indian border is sometimes hot and sometimes cold.
"But democracies are always trying to get friendly with each
other... We are trying to improve our relationship with India,
So we never talk war. Pakistan under a democratic system has
never gone to war with India," he argued.
"At the same time, there is an active threat on the
Afghan border from our side, from their side, from within the
mountains, and that's where we're engaged today. Today's war
for the perceivable future for the world and for us is that
area," Zardari said indicating he is now convinced that the
Taliban posed a serious security threat to his country.
"I can assure you that everybody in my government
knows that the threat is to them. It is not a threat to you or
anybody else," he said.
The Pakistani President said his country needs the
equipments to successfully fight out the Taliban and al-Qaeda
from within its territory. "We need much more help. And more
technology. We need more helicopters, we need night vision
equipment. I have even asked for the drones," he said.
Seeking to allay western apprehensions, Zardari
assured that Pakistan's nuclear weapons are safe and it would
never land in the hands of the Taliban or al-Qaeda.
The Pakistani President said the reports about an
eminent Taliban taken over of Islamabad are a media creation.
"The Taliban are in the mountains, which are
geographically 80 miles from Islamabad. They have always been
there. Didn't show up yesterday. So if they take one hill top
and try to take the others that does not mean that Islamabad
is in danger," Zardari said.
But Washington made it known that it was not convinced
with Zardari's assurances.
"I think both President Zardari and President (Hamid)
Karzai went back to their countries with the understanding
that there is some skepticism on the (Capitol) Hill and that
Pakistan and Afghanistan are going to have to do more and take
the steps that are necessary to deal with these threats, to
alleviate some of the concerns that exist on Capitol Hill,"
State Department Acting Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said,
"Obviously, we continue to be concern about the situation and
will watch it carefully."
Responding to a question on the ongoing military
action by the army against the Taliban in the Swat Valley,
Gibbs said, "we're heartened by the developments thus far".
However, Gibbs was quick to point out that it's
something of deep concern to the president and to the national
security team, and it is something which the US will continue
to monitor.
"This has been on the President's radar for many years
and something that the team and the President here spend an
increasing amount of time watching to ensure that we continue
to make progress," he said. PTI
Washington, May 9 (PTI) Under pressure from the US,
President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday said Pakistan is ready to
shift some of its troops from the Indian border to its western
frontier to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists.
The US has been pressing Pakistan to step up its
offensive against the Taliban but Islamabad has been reluctant
to move troops from the eastern border as it considers India
as its main threat.
US President Barack Obama, who met Zardari here, has
been trying to convince Pakistan that such a belief is
"misguided" and that the terrorists inside the country pose
the most serious threat to its security and safety.
"Let me tell you that we have moved some more (troops)
recently because the action asked for it. If need be, we will
move more," Zardari told the popular Charlie Rose Show on PBS
Saturday when asked about the US request in this regard.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai also appeared on the show.
"It was the demand based proposition, when the demand
goes up, we shift. Whenever we have to move, we will have to
move from that (Indian) border towards this (Afghan border),"
Zardari said.
Zardari's comments came after the US said it continues
to be concerned over the situation in Pakistan. Washington
also voiced skepticism over assurances given by Zardari to
Obama on the Taliban issue and made it clear that the country
needs to "do more" to meet the threat.
Asked about the perceived threat from India, Zardari
said the Indian border is sometimes hot and sometimes cold.
"But democracies are always trying to get friendly with each
other... We are trying to improve our relationship with India,
So we never talk war. Pakistan under a democratic system has
never gone to war with India," he argued.
"At the same time, there is an active threat on the
Afghan border from our side, from their side, from within the
mountains, and that's where we're engaged today. Today's war
for the perceivable future for the world and for us is that
area," Zardari said indicating he is now convinced that the
Taliban posed a serious security threat to his country.
"I can assure you that everybody in my government
knows that the threat is to them. It is not a threat to you or
anybody else," he said.
The Pakistani President said his country needs the
equipments to successfully fight out the Taliban and al-Qaeda
from within its territory. "We need much more help. And more
technology. We need more helicopters, we need night vision
equipment. I have even asked for the drones," he said.
Seeking to allay western apprehensions, Zardari
assured that Pakistan's nuclear weapons are safe and it would
never land in the hands of the Taliban or al-Qaeda.
The Pakistani President said the reports about an
eminent Taliban taken over of Islamabad are a media creation.
"The Taliban are in the mountains, which are
geographically 80 miles from Islamabad. They have always been
there. Didn't show up yesterday. So if they take one hill top
and try to take the others that does not mean that Islamabad
is in danger," Zardari said.
But Washington made it known that it was not convinced
with Zardari's assurances.
"I think both President Zardari and President (Hamid)
Karzai went back to their countries with the understanding
that there is some skepticism on the (Capitol) Hill and that
Pakistan and Afghanistan are going to have to do more and take
the steps that are necessary to deal with these threats, to
alleviate some of the concerns that exist on Capitol Hill,"
State Department Acting Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said,
"Obviously, we continue to be concern about the situation and
will watch it carefully."
Responding to a question on the ongoing military
action by the army against the Taliban in the Swat Valley,
Gibbs said, "we're heartened by the developments thus far".
However, Gibbs was quick to point out that it's
something of deep concern to the president and to the national
security team, and it is something which the US will continue
to monitor.
"This has been on the President's radar for many years
and something that the team and the President here spend an
increasing amount of time watching to ensure that we continue
to make progress," he said. PTI
