ID :
40778
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 12:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40778
The shortlink copeid
Pakistan with nukes a complex problem: Clinton
Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jan 14 (PTI) US Secretary of State-designate
Hillary Clinton Wednesday said Pakistan was a complex issue due to its nuclear capability and indicated that American aid to that country will be linked to its commitment to fight terrorism.
The former US First Lady also said the Mumbai terror
attack has emerged as a major challenge for American diplomacy
and pledged to build on the economic and political partnership
with India, which she described as a "nation with a growing
influence in the world."
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
for her confirmation hearing during when she had a tour of
global hotspots, Clinton(61) said Pakistan was one of the main
challenges being faced by the incoming Obama Administration.
"Pakistan has a particular complexity because of its
nuclear weapons capacity," she said.
She acknowledged that Pakistan was a complicated problem
as "it has many dimensions to it, the relationship with India,
the relationship with Afghanistan, the role that Iran and
others are playing in that region."
In laying out a general outlook for American foreign
policy under Barrack Obama, her former rival for the
Democratic party's presidential nomination, Clinton cited
policy themes familiar in the Obama campaign ranging from
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan to the Nuclear non-proliferation
Treaty(NPT) and US relations with India, Pakistan, China and
Russia.
Advocating Washington's intention to work more closely
with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, the wife of former
president Bill Clinton spoke about plans to triple US
non-military aid to Pakistan to prop-up the democratically
elected government and also use it as a "condition" on
commitment for counter-terrorism missions.
Expanding on the war on terror, Clinton said, "We (have
to) work more closely with the government of Pakistan to root
out Al Qaida and other remnants of terrorist networks so that
they don't find safe haven in Pakistan to plan attacks against
us or any other country."
"The democratically elected government has been saying
a lot of the right things with respect to the threat posed by
the extremists and terrorists, particularly along the border
and in the FATA region in Pakistan," she said.
Clinton said the new administration would separate
military aid from non-military aid to Pakistan.
"The tripling of the non-military aid is intended to
provide resources that will both support the Pakistani people
but also give some tools to the democratically-elected
government to try to start producing results for the people of
Pakistan," the former first lady said.
Though Clinton did not specify the quantum of aid jump
to Pakistan, the Chairman of the influential Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, John Kerry has indicated that a bill
authored by Senator Joseph Biden could be revived. The
proposed legislation will hike non-military aid to Pakistan to
USD 1.5 billion annually for five years.
However she said the administration would look at
whether it can "condition some of that on the commitment for
counter-terrorism missions also." The new administration is
inclined to support, when appropriate, a legislation in this
regard, she said.
Clinton said the incoming administration would seek
Congressional ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty (CTBT) and revive negotiation on a Fissile Material Cut
off Treaty (FMCT), both of which have been opposed by India.
Observing that the Obama Administration will carry out
a policy review on Afghanistan as it is highest priority for
President-elect Barack Obama, Clinton said Afghanistan and
Pakistan would be looked together.
"There will certainly be such a policy review (on
Afghanistan). It is the highest priority of the
president-elect," Senator Clinton said in response to a
question during the day-long hearing.
"We have to look at Afghanistan and Pakistan together,
particularly the border region," Clinton said.
She said it is imperative that the US work with
its friends in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, because this is
not only about denying Al Qaida and other extremist groups
safe haven, this is about persuading those two countries that
their security and their future is also at risk.
Clinton said the incoming Democratic administration wants
to elevate the role of diplomacy.
"The president-elect and I believe that foreign policy
must be based on a marriage of principles and pragmatism, not
rigid ideology, on facts and evidence, not emotion or
prejudice," she said.
Clinton also articulated the use of "Smart Power" to
successfully handle the "challenges" faced by the United
States across the world.
The challenges can't be addressed in isolation. It needs
Smart Power, Clinton said arguing that this is what would help
in improving the US image and leadership role in the world,
which has been hit by the Bush foreign policy of past eight
years.
"We will lead with diplomacy because that's the smart
approach, but we also know that military force will sometimes
be necessary, and we will rely on it to protect our people and
our interests when and where needed as a last resort," she
said. PTI LKJ
DEP
Washington, Jan 14 (PTI) US Secretary of State-designate
Hillary Clinton Wednesday said Pakistan was a complex issue due to its nuclear capability and indicated that American aid to that country will be linked to its commitment to fight terrorism.
The former US First Lady also said the Mumbai terror
attack has emerged as a major challenge for American diplomacy
and pledged to build on the economic and political partnership
with India, which she described as a "nation with a growing
influence in the world."
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
for her confirmation hearing during when she had a tour of
global hotspots, Clinton(61) said Pakistan was one of the main
challenges being faced by the incoming Obama Administration.
"Pakistan has a particular complexity because of its
nuclear weapons capacity," she said.
She acknowledged that Pakistan was a complicated problem
as "it has many dimensions to it, the relationship with India,
the relationship with Afghanistan, the role that Iran and
others are playing in that region."
In laying out a general outlook for American foreign
policy under Barrack Obama, her former rival for the
Democratic party's presidential nomination, Clinton cited
policy themes familiar in the Obama campaign ranging from
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan to the Nuclear non-proliferation
Treaty(NPT) and US relations with India, Pakistan, China and
Russia.
Advocating Washington's intention to work more closely
with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, the wife of former
president Bill Clinton spoke about plans to triple US
non-military aid to Pakistan to prop-up the democratically
elected government and also use it as a "condition" on
commitment for counter-terrorism missions.
Expanding on the war on terror, Clinton said, "We (have
to) work more closely with the government of Pakistan to root
out Al Qaida and other remnants of terrorist networks so that
they don't find safe haven in Pakistan to plan attacks against
us or any other country."
"The democratically elected government has been saying
a lot of the right things with respect to the threat posed by
the extremists and terrorists, particularly along the border
and in the FATA region in Pakistan," she said.
Clinton said the new administration would separate
military aid from non-military aid to Pakistan.
"The tripling of the non-military aid is intended to
provide resources that will both support the Pakistani people
but also give some tools to the democratically-elected
government to try to start producing results for the people of
Pakistan," the former first lady said.
Though Clinton did not specify the quantum of aid jump
to Pakistan, the Chairman of the influential Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, John Kerry has indicated that a bill
authored by Senator Joseph Biden could be revived. The
proposed legislation will hike non-military aid to Pakistan to
USD 1.5 billion annually for five years.
However she said the administration would look at
whether it can "condition some of that on the commitment for
counter-terrorism missions also." The new administration is
inclined to support, when appropriate, a legislation in this
regard, she said.
Clinton said the incoming administration would seek
Congressional ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty (CTBT) and revive negotiation on a Fissile Material Cut
off Treaty (FMCT), both of which have been opposed by India.
Observing that the Obama Administration will carry out
a policy review on Afghanistan as it is highest priority for
President-elect Barack Obama, Clinton said Afghanistan and
Pakistan would be looked together.
"There will certainly be such a policy review (on
Afghanistan). It is the highest priority of the
president-elect," Senator Clinton said in response to a
question during the day-long hearing.
"We have to look at Afghanistan and Pakistan together,
particularly the border region," Clinton said.
She said it is imperative that the US work with
its friends in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, because this is
not only about denying Al Qaida and other extremist groups
safe haven, this is about persuading those two countries that
their security and their future is also at risk.
Clinton said the incoming Democratic administration wants
to elevate the role of diplomacy.
"The president-elect and I believe that foreign policy
must be based on a marriage of principles and pragmatism, not
rigid ideology, on facts and evidence, not emotion or
prejudice," she said.
Clinton also articulated the use of "Smart Power" to
successfully handle the "challenges" faced by the United
States across the world.
The challenges can't be addressed in isolation. It needs
Smart Power, Clinton said arguing that this is what would help
in improving the US image and leadership role in the world,
which has been hit by the Bush foreign policy of past eight
years.
"We will lead with diplomacy because that's the smart
approach, but we also know that military force will sometimes
be necessary, and we will rely on it to protect our people and
our interests when and where needed as a last resort," she
said. PTI LKJ
DEP
