Pakistan

US insists Pakistan keep anti-terror pledges

Obama's comments underscore festering tensions between Washington and Islamabad in wake of unilateral May 2 US raid.

Afp June 23, 2011

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Wednesday vowed the United States will "insist" Pakistan fulfill its promises to counter militant sanctuaries on its soil.

"We will work with the Pakistani government to root out the cancer of violent extremism, and we will insist that it keep its commitments," Obama said in a televised speech on troop withdrawal plans for the war in Afghanistan.

Obama's comments underscored festering tensions between Washington and Islamabad in the wake of a unilateral US raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in his hideout in Pakistan last month.

In blunt language, Obama made clear he was ready to order more assaults against any safe-havens harboring those who aimed to kill Americans.

"For there should be no doubt that so long as I am president, the United States will never tolerate a safe-haven for those who aim to kill us: they cannot elude us, nor escape the justice they deserve," he said.

Referring to Pakistan, Obama said "no country is more endangered by the presence of violent extremists."

The US president said his government would "continue to press Pakistan to expand its participation in securing a more peaceful future for this war-torn region."

Before his speech, Obama telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday, officials in Islamabad said.

The Bin Laden raid humiliated the Pakistani military and invited allegations of incompetence and complicity, while Washington has increasingly demanded that Islamabad take decisive action against terror networks in the tribal badlands on the border with Afghanistan.

Apart from the operation by US special forces that killed Bin Laden, Obama has overseen a major CIA drone bombing campaign against al Qaeda and Taliban militants in Pakistan, targeting leaders with unmanned aircraft.

COMMENTS (40)

Sameer | 13 years ago | Reply It's clear to everyone that Pakistan's government lies, stabs people in the back (it's own citizens and allies), and is not trustworthy. No wonder no one wants to do business in or travel to Pakistan. It's sad because Pakistan has so many amazing places and used to have potential before Zia ruined the mindset and wanted to turn everyone into a Wahabi/Salafi.

Faction | 13 years ago | Reply @Mirza: Are you a boxing referee? Prison guard? I've never seen one argument between americans end with deadly results other than on a TV show or in the movies. What the heck are you talking about?

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Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply @Babloo: LOL, right between the eyes! Love the comment, it says it all about our mentality. We want to be dependent of US, USSR, China, SA, UAE, UK and then we bad mouth them all. Regards, Mirza

Babloo | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan insists that its a soverign nation but then it complains about being 'abandoned' by USA !! Have you ever heard any soverign nation say so ? Only orphans and widows can be abandoned , not soverign nations who stand on their own feet.

safir | 13 years ago | Reply @ hedgfunder no no it might said we leaving big mess same like russian did in 1989 u gotta clean it again but one funny thing is this time who will take all the credit last time u.s took it and now may be china.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply @R S JOHAR: @Feroz: I am happy that some of us know about the thinking of Americans. In my 31 years in many parts of America, I have not seen people arguing with each other for hours. They have no patience and finish the fights quickly with deadly results. I am not saying that it is a good or bad quality but one would not find people holding each other’s “graiban” and arguing while a crowd is gathered. Right now Americans have achieved their goals and do not want to stay in Afghanistan. It is the first time that the majority of Americans (56%) want to get out of there. Obama being an elected president and answerable to people, and going for second term would not drag his feet in Afghanistan or anywhere. Thanks and regards, Mirza

Praful Shah | 13 years ago | Reply @Qasim Ahmad Ilyas: You have created this monster, now you tackle it and pay price. US has done all it can but you guys are commited to terror.

Praful Shah | 13 years ago | Reply @Mirza: Ten years is not small time. There is limit to put up Pakistani double game.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @R S JOHAR: All Roads Lead to Islamabad for the Talebs and its Mullah Army!! The fun will really start then, as to how their Mighty Army decide to Dael with them, as Historically they have always lacked Long Term Vision in the Interest of their Country or its People!!!

Chacha | 13 years ago | Reply @zahid amjad: those same middle eastern friends are providing pakistan its economic lifeline - 80,000 barrels of oil per day from Saudi free ! (there is a loan in there but the repayment terms are absurdly loose). Why does the all-powerful pakistani army not control those people who are funded. If funds are coming in, why do not the banks impund those funds. It is very easy to blame everyone, but the solution to problems comes from within.

Butt Seriously | 13 years ago | Reply Could you please Nuke us once and for all and spare us the misery of humiliation on a daily basis...... Please.........

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply Why is asking someone to honor a pledge considered unreasonable ---- is lying so endemic in Pakistan that you no longer understand the consequences of making a pledge?

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply Obama is a man in a hurry to pack-up its bags from Afghanistan with an eye on next year's Presidential elections leaving Pakistan to deal with both Talebans along with their other prodigies, whose next destination is surely Pakistan.

Feroz | 13 years ago | Reply Can I note a sense of desperation in the message President Obama is sending ? Seems to me that patience is running thin and situation needs to be diffused soon. Another cross border raid by uncle Sam to take out a target will cut the earth from under the feet of the Military Establishment. Doing nothing and playing for time may not yield the best results.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @safir: Yes strange!! I guess Obama must have just wanted to make it clear that, don't throw any Tantrums and don't Jump out of your Pram !!!! Stay put and keep quiet!!! Hence,so far there has been no response from Pak Govt!!

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Obama, no one trusts you. You are running away from Afghanistan because you have lost the war. You may have bought the politicians, generals and a few liberals in Pakistan but the majority of people are not with you. So don't lecture us.

safir | 13 years ago | Reply Before the speech obama called zardari........---------------------

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply yawn!!!!! international media keeps printing same article over and over.

Genius | 13 years ago | Reply When the worlds' biggest and most ferociuos terrorists declared war on the USA on June 8, 1967 by launching an unprovoked attack on the USS Liberty, what was the response of the US President for such a daring terrorist act? The US President complied with the orders of the terrorists. Long ago the British governemnt also co-operated with the terrorist organisation. Today both the British and the US governments take order from these terrorists. So much is the reality of "War on Terror". Read all about USS Liberty on Google and also on: http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/margolis12.html

Bambayyyaa | 13 years ago | Reply @ Dr Nadeem S.. I really wonder when u call this war non sensical .... u mean all these years all the countries who fought with terrorist had no brains at alllll ??? huh... wonder who is non sensical ...

Faisel Hafeez | 13 years ago | Reply Americans will always pursue their "National Interest". Its time Pakistan should also be boldly doing whats in its National Interest.

Aslam Mahaboob | 13 years ago | Reply @zahid amjad: Why America should solve our problems? Why we cannot do it ourselves? Why are we closing our eyes and hoping that the problems will go away? If we put an effort to open more schools, then everyone will come forward to help us. @Dr. Saleem Siddiqi : Rather than talking to the TTP & the taliban, we should be building bridges with all our neighbours. Our proxies are not going to win us Kashmir or strategic depth.

Fahad Raza | 13 years ago | Reply its all about the budget cuts in america. Democrat dont want it to cut from medicare and Republican dont want it from military complex and Rich billionaires, so to balance it, its just a symbolic gesture to call some of the troops from Afghanistan. American have 900 bases all over the world will call them all of No. Only one of all the American politician RON PAUL is and was calling for it all these 10 years. Still now as he running for presidential run even if republican his message is in total contrast from all Republican and Democrats put all together. He is talking about all the reforms to thing which made his country bad like FED, MILT complex, Foreign policy etc etc. Hope he becomes the president of USA

sanjithmenon | 13 years ago | Reply Most Pakistani trader friends we have in Dubai, say that even in the higher ranks, of the armed forces, there is a feeling that they are fighting Americas war, and that terrorism and Jehadis will never hurt Pakistan. The crunch time is near, will Pakistan go to NWA or not? I do not think they can. If they dont then IMF money will not come. And when boxed into a corner the Pakistan army will turn into something sinister, to divert attention. And the easiest target is India. Its time to be careful.

shumayel | 13 years ago | Reply mr. obama, we dont know what commitments are you talking about cuz last time we checked, at least the pakistani nation did not commit fighting your self-engineered war. may be you should direct the question to zardari and gillani to personally come and fight with u. excuse this nation, or at least we will...in a while. and u need to stop acting like a texas bully.

Frank | 13 years ago | Reply Manoj

Your thought process, if implemented will lead Pakistan to dissaster, to say the least. Choice is yours.

I'm advocating Pakistan forming political and economic alliances to keep America out of Asia. I am not advocating violence or religious extremism. Why will my thought processes lead to disaster? And these ideas are in the air already, they aren't just my thought processes.

Faction | 13 years ago | Reply War on Islamic extremism in Pakistan is like war on spaghetti in Italy - it's part of the culture and few are interested in seeing it go.

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply @Mirza: Yes Obama should not jump to conclusions nnd finger pointing. Everything takes time. In fact he must realize the agony and hardship which Pakistan is undergoing from TTP attacks within Pakistan. It is time that Pakistan must also talk with TTP and resolve differences to end this nonsence war of terror as now US, Germany others are realizing and pulling out of Afghanistan. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg - South Africa

Manoj | 13 years ago | Reply @Frank: Your thought process, if implemented will lead Pakistan to dissaster, to say the least. Choice is yours.

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply @zahid amjad: Agreed on every word. They are so rigid and inflexible that they don't even allow a visitor to give a 'bayaan' on a religious subject. However, like USA, you forgot to mention that these madrassah students are also taught how to function as the 'qabza mafia.' The USA thinks it has got a foothold in Afghanistan and will keep its soldiers well after the symbolic troop withdrawal. Obama must be having a stink bomb in his head. Obama does not realize that history and posterity will not forgive the enormous damnation the USA has spread in the world. Thet are always saying 'viva technology.' Salams.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @SavePakistan: Yes ! very much for sure, their eyes will be focused on Islamabad!! Next stop islambad, they will have Mullahs running the country in next 5 years if not sooner and get hold of the nukes too! That way the rest of the world will simply watch them go about their business and return Afpak back to 6th century, and return of their Sharia Laws too!! So much for Pak's Stratigic Assets in the region!!! Once again Pakistan has shown its lack of apptitude and abiltity to make their policies!!!

Shamashudin Qamar | 13 years ago | Reply ' In blunt language, Obama made clear he was ready to order more assaults against any safe-havens harboring those who aimed to kill Americans'.You illusive hallucination like lies of WMDS of Iraq. and you killed one million innocent civilians,ten millions were mutilated,made widows,orphans,destitute and three millions refugees to wilderness for life .all to save Sadam killing Americans when he did nit kill a bird in America.Same goes for Mulla Omar.Obama is an obnoxious liars as Bush was.USA neocons invisible rulers know WOT,false wars,terrorism is 100000 trillion dollars business at the cost of 1000 American taxpayers dollars.America is a war weaponry-terrorism weaponry dependent economy while it has lost is consumer and consumer durable base to China and south east Asia .It must to sustain its 1000 trillion dollars loos to econom,she must continue false wars through traitors and toadies in their regions of interests which they have found in Pakistan and Afghanistan.Obama new move is only election specific to muster internal support otherwise WOT will likely worsen in Pakistan as it guarantees perpetuation of power and unbridled illegal wealth of traitors- toadies.The more the drones and longer the WOT,the longer the powerhouse of toadies.

Asim+Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Unless and until the right leadership comes into our parliament, we will be ridiculed by not only this President (Obama) but others as well. What the country requires is strong leadership. Leadership which will give this country a vision for economic prosperity, high intellectual and moral standards and the issues related with extremism, poverty, job creation will gradually disappear. Until then it appears that there is a systematic campaign to break the country into several parts. Some colonel sitting in the Pentagon would have drafted this vision for a new Pakistan and this is what is happening to this country

SavePakistan | 13 years ago | Reply In the eyes of the Taliban fighters, they have defeated the USA as they had the Soviets. This will only make their resolved stronger. Let's hope they don't turn their guns on Pakistan.

Ba ha | 13 years ago | Reply This is not a timetable for withdrawal of troops. Its an admission that Pakistan will take three more years to De-fang

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply Has Pakistan ever kept any pledges or promises in last 60 years??? The US are still acting bit naive about their partners in "War on Terror " If US really want the job done, they know they will have to go it alone!!!

Frank | 13 years ago | Reply obama

We will work with the Pakistani government to root out the cancer of violent extremism, and we will insist that it keep its commitments

We will work with the Chinese, Iranian, Russian and Afghan governments to root out the cancer of American violent extremism, and we will insist that this region never again experiences the demonic malevolence of an American presence.

Qasim Ahmad Ilyas | 13 years ago | Reply I think US wants Pakistan unstable while President Obama is securing Americans' future, Wawo what a pleasant televised address he made; Pakistan would continue war on terror.... Wah! I think we should also demolish this war what they ever had alleged Pakistan is enough for us to understand ground reality of this continent.

zahid amjad | 13 years ago | Reply The americans should get their middle eastern friends to stop funding islamic fanatics in paksitan.The saudis,emiratis,iranis have funded the building of thousands of madrassas all over pakistan in which small children are taught to hate anyone non-muslim,to hate strong,independent,intelligent women,to hate gays and lesbians .If you ever talk to any of these madrassa people you will see that they are obsessed with declaring everyone 'wajib-ul-qatal' especially those who don't agree with their religious dogma. The americans should work to open more schools and universities in pakistan so no child goes to the madrassas and ruins his and his country's future.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply President Obama should show some patience. Pakistan army is already trying to purge the extremists from its forces. In fact he should support these effforts even though they are too little and too late. However, better late than never!

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