Pakistan Army actively targeting Taliban: Gates

[Lankan Ranger]

Pakistan Army actively targeting Taliban: Gates

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates defended Pakistan on Sunday, saying the country was actively targeting militants, after leaked documents alleged Islamabad’s intelligence agency is guiding Afghan insurgents.

“What I see is a change in the strategic calculus in Pakistan,” he said on ABC News’ ‘This Week with Christiane Amanpour’.

“They are more and more partnering with us and working with us and fighting these insurgents and 140,000 soldiers (are) in northwestern Pakistan fighting some of the same insurgents that we are,” Gates said.

His defence of Pakistan comes after new questions about links between the country’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency and Taliban leaders.

Gates acknowledged that the allegations were “a concern.”

“There’s no question about it,” he said.

“But I would say that, again, we walked out on Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1989 and left them basically holding the bag. And there is always the fear that we will do that again,” Gates said. “And I believe that’s the reason there’s a certain hedge,” he added.

He said Pakistan had shown it was now committed to tackling the Taliban by raiding militant safe havens in South Waziristan and Swat.

“And so the Pakistanis going after any of these groups, I believe, overall, helps us in what we’re trying to accomplish, both with respect to Afghanistan and with respect to al Qaeda,” he said.

Limited: Despite growing clamour against the war in Afghanistan, Gates said that large numbers of US troops will remain after a “limited” July 2011 drawdown.

Gates said the US-led force was making headway in the war and Taliban insurgents would not be able to wait out American forces — as a major troop withdrawal was not on the horizon.

“I think we need to re-emphasise the message that we are not leaving Afghanistan in July of 2011,” said Gates, referring to a deadline set by US President Barack Obama for the start of a withdrawal.

“My personal opinion is that drawdowns early on will be of fairly limited numbers,” he said.

“And as we are successful, we’ll probably accelerate,” Gates said.

Asked if the Taliban could simply “run out the clock” until the mid-2011 target, Gates said that he would “welcome that, because we will be there in the 19th month, and we will be there with a lot of troops”.

Missiles: Separately, talking to CNN, Gates dismissed reports that Taliban in Afghanistan use anti-aircraft stinger missiles similar to those directed against Soviet forces in the 1980s.

“I don’t think so,” Gates said.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan has struck ‘major blows’ against Qaeda

* Obama says US making progress in Afghanistan despite ‘huge challenges’

ATLANTA: US President Barack Obama said on Monday the US mission was making progress in Afghanistan and stressed Pakistan was also in the fight against al Qaeda, pushing back against recently leaked documents that question its commitment.

“In Pakistan, we’ve seen the government begin to take the fight to violent extremists within its borders. Major blows have been struck against al Qaeda and its leadership,” he told the Disabled American Veterans convention.

Challenges: “We face huge challenges in Afghanistan,” he acknowledged, adding, “But it’s important that the American people know that we are making progress and we’re focused on goals.”

“If Afghanistan were to be engulfed by an even wider insurgency, al Qaeda… would have even more space to plan their next attack. And as president of the US, I refuse to let that happen,” Obama said.

“On the military front, nearly all the additional forces that I ordered to Afghanistan are now in place,” Obama said.

“On the civilian front, we’re insisting on greater accountability, and the Afghan government has taken concrete steps to foster development, to combat corruption, and to put forward a reintegration plan that allows Afghans to lay down their arms,” Obama said.

He also vowed to make good on his promise to end US combat operations in Iraq by the end of August, despite a dangerous political deadlock in Baghdad. agencies

 

[Tshering22]

Oh man, another wise guy giving official statements when Wikileaks just ripped open a vortex that has caused more than enough embarrassment to US military.

I sometimes wonder what US wants with its double talk. After the leak, I doubt anyone would continue trusting them especially the public displeasure.

 

[banned]

Gates said. “And I believe that’s the reason there’s a certain hedge,”

Finally he is coming to an age.
The suddent departure of americans in 90 risked pakistan future into talibans. Dangerous mercanries armed to teeth when the flow of dollars stopped. It has no option but to forge an alliance with them.

Taliabans are just paid wardlords who are available to highest bidder.

 

[graphican]

Finally he is coming to an age.
The suddent departure of americans in 90 risked pakistan future into talibans. Dangerous mercanries armed to teeth when the flow of dollars stopped. It has no option but to forge an alliance with them.

Taliabans are just paid wardlords who are available to highest bidder.

Highly Disagree. Could USA not pay them being the richest bidder?

 

[banned]

Highly Disagree. Could USA not pay them being the richest bidder?

It did..during the afghan jihad. But premature departure left these people unexpectedly short changed hence Pak left with no choice but to support them or else their guns to be turned against Pak. Now taliban pose a serious threat to Pak because RAW is traveling with bags of cash recuirting talibans to carry operations inside Pakistan. That is all the concerns of General Kiyani. The Pukhtoon tribes have a history of warriorship and committing manpower to wars coupled with lack of development and employment in KP makes them a ripe target for hire as mercinaries.

 

[graphican]

It did..during the afghan jihad. But premature departure left these people unexpectedly short changed hence Pak left with no choice but to support them or else their guns to be turned against Pak. Now taliban pose a serious threat to Pak because RAW is traveling with bags of cash recuirting talibans to carry operations inside Pakistan. That is all the concerns of General Kiyani. The Pukhtoon tribes have a history of warriorship and committing manpower to wars coupled with lack of development and employment in KP makes them a ripe target for hire as mercinaries.

Oh no my friend. Our grounds of learning are totally different. Try listening to some Mujahid who fought against Russia or USA and he would tell you what is that about. If we have to choose between the two devils in Afghanistan, that would be Amarat-e-Islami (previously termed as Taliban).