- Joined
- Jun 29, 2009
- Messages
- 4,970
- Likes
- 229
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\11\17\story_17-11-2010_pg7_4
Pakistan biggest victim of int'l terrorism: US
* Blake says Obama highlighted in Delhi that stable Pakistan in interest of both US, India
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has been the chief victim of international terrorism and curbing militancy is in the country's own interest, a senior American official said while noting that a stable Pakistan was in the interests of both the US and India.
Robert Blake, assistant secretary of state for South Asia, told a briefing that during his recent visit to India, President Barack Obama highlighted that Washington and New Delhi had shared interest in reducing Pakistan-India tensions.
"I think the president was very clear that Pakistan itself has been the chief victim of international terrorism. And so it's very much in its own interest to crackdown on these groups, which increasingly are operating as a syndicate and it's very difficult to really distinguish between them," he said.
On the foreign policy side, he said, "An important focus was Pakistan during Obama's visit".
"The president welcomed dialogue between India and Pakistan and highlighted our shared interest in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan, and in a stable and more prosperous Pakistan," Blake said at the Foreign Press Centre.
The diplomat noted that "the president, over the course of his three days, talked at great length about the importance of Pakistan, about the shared interests that the US and India have in a stable and prosperous Pakistan, but also of the need for Pakistan to take concrete steps to address the terrorism that is emanating from its soil and to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice as quickly as possible."
Blake, in response to a question, said the US had welcomed the steps that Islamabad had taken thus far in, for example, the Swat Valley and South Waziristan, but wanted to see progress in places like North Waziristan and against groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. app
Pakistan biggest victim of int'l terrorism: US
* Blake says Obama highlighted in Delhi that stable Pakistan in interest of both US, India
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has been the chief victim of international terrorism and curbing militancy is in the country's own interest, a senior American official said while noting that a stable Pakistan was in the interests of both the US and India.
Robert Blake, assistant secretary of state for South Asia, told a briefing that during his recent visit to India, President Barack Obama highlighted that Washington and New Delhi had shared interest in reducing Pakistan-India tensions.
"I think the president was very clear that Pakistan itself has been the chief victim of international terrorism. And so it's very much in its own interest to crackdown on these groups, which increasingly are operating as a syndicate and it's very difficult to really distinguish between them," he said.
On the foreign policy side, he said, "An important focus was Pakistan during Obama's visit".
"The president welcomed dialogue between India and Pakistan and highlighted our shared interest in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan, and in a stable and more prosperous Pakistan," Blake said at the Foreign Press Centre.
The diplomat noted that "the president, over the course of his three days, talked at great length about the importance of Pakistan, about the shared interests that the US and India have in a stable and prosperous Pakistan, but also of the need for Pakistan to take concrete steps to address the terrorism that is emanating from its soil and to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice as quickly as possible."
Blake, in response to a question, said the US had welcomed the steps that Islamabad had taken thus far in, for example, the Swat Valley and South Waziristan, but wanted to see progress in places like North Waziristan and against groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. app