'Militants acquiring funds from outside'

Militants raise funds via sources located outside Pakistan or by extorting Nato supply convoys, says Holbrooke.

ISLAMABAD:

US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has said that terrorists and militants raise funds via sources located outside Pakistan or by extorting Nato supply convoys.

Holbrooke, who is in the federal capital to represent his country at the Pakistan Development Forum, was speaking in a special radio roundtable discussion on Sunday and said this is a serious issue and they are working to address it.

Holbrooke said that US commitment to this part of the world is enduring and encompassing economic development.

The US special envoy said that the process of combat troop withdrawal from Afghanistan would begin in July next year and completed in a phased manner in four years. He clarified that the process of withdrawal is not an exit strategy but a transition strategy. He said they want to return full sovereignty over to the people and government of Afghanistan.

He said that the Taliban’s demand for the removal of President Hamid Karzai is unacceptable. The US and other countries, including Pakistan, support the government of President Karzai and Taliban will have to live with this reality.

Answering a question, Holbrooke said the operation in North Waziristan would be a tactical one and made by Pakistan Army and the government.

Talks on development

Holbrooke said the United States has so far provided about $500 million worth of assistance to help Pakistan cope with the aftermath of the devastating floods.

He said 60 per cent of the $5.3 billion pledges made at the Tokyo moot of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan have been materialised.

The US special envoy appreciated the democratic government of Pakistan for initiating the difficult decision of tabling pieces of legislation in the National Assembly for the imposition of flood tax and reformed general sales tax.

He said Pakistan is one of the most under-taxed countries in the world and it is the obligation of the rich to contribute from their income for welfare of the people and mitigate sufferings of the people in distress.

Towards better understanding

When asked whether statement of President Obama to support India’s bid to seek permanent membership of the UN Security Council would not be unhelpful in reducing tension between Pakistan and India, he said the United States favours greater understanding between the two countries.

He said the US leadership has repeatedly said that the two countries should work out their differences. He said the ability of the United States to talk freely and candidly with both Pakistan and India would be helpful in reducing tensions.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2010.