Post-Bin Laden: US, UK shore up support for Pakistan

Cameron praises Islamabad’s efforts against terror; al Qaeda is as much Pakistan’s enemy as ours: Obama.

LONDON:

Amidst growing militant violence and international scepticism about Pakistan’s commitment in the war against violent extremism following the death of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden on its soil, Islamabad on Wednesday found some support from the two main global political players: the United Kingdom and the United States.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the West should redouble its efforts to work with Pakistan as the country seeks to stamp out terrorism. US President Barack Obama said, “Al Qaeda is as much Pakistan’s enemy as it is ours.”

“People are asking questions about our relationship, so we need to be clear: Pakistan has suffered more from terrorism than any other country in the world. Their enemy is our enemy,” Cameron said at a joint news conference with Obama.

“Far from walking away we’ve got to work even more closely with them,” he added.

Speaking under the open skies at the Lancaster House, Cameron, along with Obama, termed Pakistan crucial for peace in Afghanistan.

With reference to the war against terrorism, Cameron said, “We can defeat al Qaeda. The events of recent months  give us opportunity to turn the tide against their terror, once and for all. We must continue to destroy their network.”

Cameron also said that Britain and the US agreed on the need to give top priority in the coming months to efforts to engage the Taliban in a peace process in Afghanistan. “Now is the moment to step up our efforts to reach a political settlement,” he said.

“The Taliban must make a decisive split from al Qaeda, give up violence, and join a political process that will bring lasting peace to that country. We are agreed to give this the highest priority in the months ahead.”

On his part, President Obama said there was need of close collaboration between governments in Islamabad and Kabul.

He said the Taliban were never well-wishers of Pakistan and Afghanistan and they must respect constitution of Afghanistan by dropping their weapons and breaking their connection with al Qaeda. “We would not allow terrorists to make safe havens in Afghanistan,” he added.

Official sources have said that the US has already begun talks with representatives of the Taliban, although these have so far been described as preliminary rather than substantive.

Some officials have also said that Bin Laden’s death could make it easier for the Taliban to break with al Qaeda.

However, they caution against expecting any early breakthrough in complex efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan after decades of war.

Obama, on a two-day state visit to Britain, moves to France on Thursday for a G8 summit in Deauville.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2011.