Afghanistan tougher than Iraq: Holbrooke: Pakistan needs aid, sympathy

[batmannow]

Afghanistan tougher than Iraq: Holbrooke: Pakistan needs aid, sympathy
dawnnews.com
February 09, 2009 Monday Safar 13, 1430

MUNICH: The United States warned its allies on Sunday that fighting the insurgency in Afghanistan could prove tougher than in Iraq and appealed, along with Britain, for more troops and equipment.

US ambassador Richard Holbrooke insisted that a new approach was required to turn the strife-torn country around, involving all of Afghanistan’s neighbours, particularly Pakistan.

“It is like no other problem we have confronted, and in my view it’s going to be much tougher than Iraq,” he said at an international security conference in Germany. “It is going to be a long, difficult struggle.”

Mr Holbrooke, who is scheduled to visit Pakistan on Monday, said that the administration of President Barack Obama was reviewing the best way to tackle the Taliban-led insurgency.

“What is required in my view is new ideas, better coordination within the US government, better coordination with our Nato allies and other concerned countries, and the time to get it right,” he said.

Countries bordering Afghanistan must also be drawn in as part of a solution, he said, including Iran but particularly Pakistan, where the Taliban and its backers have rear bases.

“All the neighbours... play a direct role and we’re going to look for more of a regional approach,” he said, noting that “Pakistan’s situation is dire.”

“It (Pakistan) needs international assistance, international sympathy and international support,” said Mr Holbrooke, the new envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.—AFP

 

[waraich66]

No nation is weak or tough but their faith and level of sacrifice are main factors of their strength, but always strength of nations tested in battle fields.

I think holbrooke will resign soon , Afghan(Pushtoon) nation with present moral and faith can not be defeated.

In Last thirty years they have given sacrifice of more than 3 million lives still they are challenging super powers of world .

Similarly Pakistani nation had given sacrifice of millions of lives during partition in 1947,india tried to break but failed now if US wanted to test our nation most well come we are tougher then Afghans. We pakistani ruled india and afghanistan both for thausand of years.

 

[batmannow]

GEO Pakistan
Richard Holbrook arrives in Islamabad
Updated at: 1928 PST, Monday, February 09, 2009

ISLAMABAD: US special envoy to South Asia, Richard Holbrook arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a four-day visit.

During his first visit to Pakistan he will hold in-depth talks with Pakistani officials, with a view to further strengthening of bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States.

Holbrooke will also call on the President and the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.

Pakistan has welcomed the appointment of Holbrooke and looks forward to the beginning of a process of constructive engagement with the United States, especially in the wake of assumption of office by President Obama and his team.

 

[Omar1984]

The last time I was in Islamabad, a brother from tribal areas told me the only thing the people of FATA are seeking is education and development. If there's education and development in FATA, like some of the other provinces of Pakistan, there wont be any major problems.

I think US should offer aid into developing those areas and offer good education to the people of FATA.
Fighting will not solve the problem. Development and Education is the key to solving the problem. Why do you think there's not a major "Taliban" threat in Punjab, Sindh, or even most parts of NWFP? Because children, teenagers, adults are getting education, men and women are working, and people on average are living in a decent environment.

 

[Destructlord]

If U.S troops leave the Iraq rebels regaining the control again (At the present time), About Afghanistan! I dont like Taliban or Al-Qaeda at all but im sure U.S can't defeat those nuts so easily! However thats weaking U.S army and economy as well! Dont forget U.S sold more than $6 billion dollar warfare to Iraq last year! they're getting some money as well! not to mention they're taking the oil! Most importantly they're looting Iraq museums!

 

[zombie]

More aid means more drones.

 

[batmannow]

GEO Pakistan
Halbrooke calls on PM, FM
Updated at: 1246 PST, Tuesday, February 10, 2009

ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Halbrooke held talks with the Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Quraishi and later on with the prime minister also.

US Representative, Richard Halbrooke held talks with the Foreign Minister, Shah Mmahmood Quraishi at the Foreign Office here, when to him (Halbrooke) it was suggested that for combating the militants, the development budget be increased along with making the dialogue process effective. The talks centered on matters relating to Pak-US relations and cooperation in the war against terror. High officials of both the countries were also present on this occasion.

Sources told Geo News that Richard Halbrooke was also apprised of the negative impacts of the drone attacks, which was creating unrest among the people. Halbrooke was also told that Afghan war was also impacting negatively in the Pakistani tribal areas and the people’s sentiments get enraged.

On the other hand, Halbrooke accompanied by US Ambassador N. Peterson called on the Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani here, when bilateral matters, war against terror and others crucial issues in the region were discussed.

 

[roadrunner]

The US has very loosely defined goals in Afghanistan.

I doubt they know who Al Qaeda is. If any Al Qaeda members really existed in Afghanistan or even in the tribal areas of Pakistan, they would be foolish for doing so when they could easily live an easier life somewhere in Sudan or some other subsaharan dump where no laws are enforced.

Here's my prediction: Some point in the future, it will be announced that Bin Laden choked on a Pretzel while eating his dinner in a cave. Mission accomplished and the war will be over.

On the subject, isn't it obvious Afghanistan wasn't going to be the same as Iraq? Two different people, different histories, different mentalities. There sure are some smart people in the US

 

[waraich66]

Problem US intelligence facing to catch OBL is ,they trained him he know their strategies,capabilities,instruments,think tank bla bla .

I believe they will not have given Karzai same training LOL

 

[roadrunner]

Problem US intelligence facing to catch OBL is ,they trained him he know their strategies,capabilities,instruments,think tank bla bla .

I believe they will not have given Karzai same training LOL

OBL was a schmuck in the Afghan-Soviet war. He did no fighting. Just drove a bulldozer and financed some people for the US and Saudi.

 

[Omar1984]

On the subject, isn't it obvious Afghanistan wasn't going to be the same as Iraq? Two different people, different histories, different mentalities. There sure are some smart people in the US

A lot of people in U.S. think that Arabs and Muslims are Synonyms

 

[batmannow]

well , dear commrads,
things are going well for pakistan! surprisingly!!
Holbrookes appointment was a good step, thn Holbrooke's attitude till now looks cool to me.

 

[Omar1984]

well , dear commrads,
things are going well for pakistan! surprisingly!!
Holbrookes appointment was a good step, thn Holbrooke's attitude till now looks cool to me.

We'll just have to wait and see. I'm just sick of people linking Pakistan with Afghanistan, no offense to Afghans.

Pakistani officials should give Holbrooke an official tour of Islamabad, and then he'll see for himself that Pakistan and Afghanistan are nothing alike.

 

[mhacsan]

More aid means more drones.

u r 100% right, slaves are made this way, feed n hit. Zardari does not deveserve to be a pakistani, thats why military is moe favoured than politicans.

Allah help Pakistan , we need a visionay leader. Mushraf or Imran khan

 

[roadrunner]

We'll just have to wait and see. I'm just sick of people linking Pakistan with Afghanistan, no offense to Afghans.

Pakistani officials should give Holbrooke an official tour of Islamabad, and then he'll see for himself that Pakistan and Afghanistan are nothing alike.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are sort of like a continuum. I don't think that is far fetched to admit.

However, the suggestion that the US's problems in Afghanistan are due to safe havens in Pakistan are just not realistic. The insurgency is being picked up by the Afghani people within Afghanistan. The policy makers in DC are just not too bright or just are naive. Or perhaps they are making scapegoats. It's probably nothing more than talk to save face. Would you be happy with an army of AK-47/RPG armed people causing problems for an army with multi billion dollar spending?