ID :
10230
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 18:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10230
The shortlink copeid
US downplays Karzai threat; asks Pak, Afghan to co-operate
Washington, Jun 17 (PTI) - The US has sought to downplay the threat by Afghan President Hamid Karzai to send troops into the Pakistan's tribal areas to target Taliban's bases, saying the two Asian neighbours should "co-operate" and fight against "common enemies".
Earlier, President George Bush while wrapping up his week-long European tour, refused to endorse Karzai's statement and offered assistance to the countries in solving the "testy border situation".
"We continue to believe that active cooperation and communication between Afghanistan and Pakistan officials is indispensable to focus efforts in defeating our common enemies.
"As the president has said consultation and dialogue, such as continuing the fruitful jirga process which begun last August can bring great benefits to both countries and to the United States," state department's acting spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said at his briefing Monday.
Following the Karzai statement, the relationship between the countries had worsened further with Pakistan summoning Afghan's ambassador to Islamabad to lodge a protest.
However, the US said that it will continue to work with both the countries to root out terrorist elements.
"Taliban and other insurgent elements are a threat to both Afghanistan and Pakistan, and cross-border infiltration must be stopped. Both countries (must) understand that," Gallegos said.
"To render border areas inhospitable to extremists, solutions must be enforceable, comprehensive and promote sustainable development throughout the region. We will continue work with both governments to help them with that" the senior official maintained.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Defence Robert Gates said the situation in the Afghan-Pakistan border is serious.
"The area along the Afghan-Pakistan border is a real problem. Al Qaeda is there. The Taliban is there. They are more of a problem in the south in Afghanistan than they are in the east. We will just have to watch carefully and see how these agreements with the tribes are going," Gates said in a media interaction.
"And my own view is we need to be patient up to a point with the new Pakistani civilian government," he added.
Earlier, President George Bush while wrapping up his week-long European tour, refused to endorse Karzai's statement and offered assistance to the countries in solving the "testy border situation".
"We continue to believe that active cooperation and communication between Afghanistan and Pakistan officials is indispensable to focus efforts in defeating our common enemies.
"As the president has said consultation and dialogue, such as continuing the fruitful jirga process which begun last August can bring great benefits to both countries and to the United States," state department's acting spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said at his briefing Monday.
Following the Karzai statement, the relationship between the countries had worsened further with Pakistan summoning Afghan's ambassador to Islamabad to lodge a protest.
However, the US said that it will continue to work with both the countries to root out terrorist elements.
"Taliban and other insurgent elements are a threat to both Afghanistan and Pakistan, and cross-border infiltration must be stopped. Both countries (must) understand that," Gallegos said.
"To render border areas inhospitable to extremists, solutions must be enforceable, comprehensive and promote sustainable development throughout the region. We will continue work with both governments to help them with that" the senior official maintained.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Defence Robert Gates said the situation in the Afghan-Pakistan border is serious.
"The area along the Afghan-Pakistan border is a real problem. Al Qaeda is there. The Taliban is there. They are more of a problem in the south in Afghanistan than they are in the east. We will just have to watch carefully and see how these agreements with the tribes are going," Gates said in a media interaction.
"And my own view is we need to be patient up to a point with the new Pakistani civilian government," he added.
