Not a single person expressed concern over drone attacks: Holbrooke

[Naveed Yaseen]

PEER MUHAMMAD
ISLAMABAD (June 06 2009): The US Special Representatives for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on Friday said that not a single person in Pakistan including civil society expressed concern over drone attacks during his current visit. However, he said, the US respects the sovereignty and border sanctity of Pakistan and would not send its forces into Pakistan, saying that tackling the militancy in Pakistani territory is the responsibility of its own forces.

Holbrooke was addressing a press conference at the end of his three-day visit to Pakistan on the special instructions of President Barack Obama to assess the situation of the displaced persons in the wake of the ongoing military offensive against militants in Swat and other parts of the Malakand Division.

He said the spillover effect of the militants into the Pakistani territory could be increased after the proposed reinforcement of 17,000 new Nato troops into Afghanistan. "We have to study and examine carefully as to where to deploy the new forces, he said, adding that Pakistan army is also in a better position to protect its border."

However, he said, Pakistani authorities would be informed about the strategic development in Afghanistan. Holbrooke expressed satisfaction over the unity among the government, army, political parties and civil society against militants. The US, he said, respects the new anti-militant approach emerged among all the segments of the society in Pakistan, which he said is a great success and what he termed a "glorious development".

He particularly mentioned his meetings with the President, the Prime Minister, Foreign, Interior and Defence Ministers as well as Nawaz Sharif, army chief and ISI chief, saying that he found a significant change in them about the militancy since his first visit to Pakistan.

The US applauds the people and the government of Pakistan for this positive change. The US, he said is committed to helping out Pakistan for overcoming the challenges it is facing these days. "The people of Pakistan do not know that the US is helping Pakistan as a good friend," he added.

He said that 2/3rd of the foreign aid to the IDPs is coming from the US and sought assistance from the international community in this regard. To a question, he said the US is in constant touch with India over the regional situation and the superpower wants to have good relations with the two countries.

To a question, Holbrooke said that the US trying to ascertain the sources of finance and ammunition to the Taliban. He was of the view that the return of the IDPs to their homes and their resettlement is a major challenge for Pakistan and the international community should come forward to help Pakistan tackle the issue.

He hailed the role of the Pakistan army, saying that it is doing a wonderful job in combating the militancy in Malakand Division and tribal areas. About his meeting with the ISI chief, he said, though he held a detailed meeting with the intelligence chief and discussed important matters but refused to share the details with the media. To a question about the US role in making the Pakistani Parliament by transferring the power, he said his country does not want to interfere into the internal politics of Pakistan and the issues must be settled internally.

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