Specialist One
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We won’t pursue Taliban leaders in Pakistan: Gates: Troop surge to force Taliban to talks: US
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s decision to bolster the US military presence in Afghanistan is aimed in part at bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table on US terms, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday.
“I think that the likelihood of the leadership of the Taliban, or senior leaders, being willing to accept the conditions… depends in the first instance on reversing their momentum right now, and putting them in a position where they suddenly begin to realise that they’re likely to lose,” he said.
Gates also said the US would not pursue Taliban leaders in Pakistan and that it was up to Islamabad to address the threat posed by the terrorists to its territory.
His comments followed reports that said the White House had granted authority to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to expand a bombing campaign in Pakistan by unmanned aircraft to strike the Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives.
“Pakistan is a sovereign government. We are in a partnership with them. I think at this point it’s up to the Pakistani military to deal with this problem,” Gates said.
He added that the US had confidence that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was secure despite the threat posed by the insurgents.
“We’re comfortable” with the security of the country’s atomic weapons, Gates said.
The US Defence Secretary said Washington did not know where Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was and had lacked reliable information on his whereabouts for years.
Referring to the last time US intelligence had a fix on Bin Laden’s whereabouts, Gates said, “I think it’s been years.”
Seperately, talking to CNN, US special envoy Richard Holbrooke said, “To me the most important issue for our success is dealing with the [terrorists’] sanctuary in Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton refused to rule out talks with the Taliban for a settlement of the Afghan war, but set conditions.
“They have to renounce Al Qaeda, renounce violence,” Clinton told the ABC News “This Week” programme. “They have to be willing to abide by the constitution of Afghanistan and live peacefully.” agencies
I hope that Americans were this much sincere to us..... yeah they wont pursue but sending drones is no pursuing
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s decision to bolster the US military presence in Afghanistan is aimed in part at bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table on US terms, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday.
“I think that the likelihood of the leadership of the Taliban, or senior leaders, being willing to accept the conditions… depends in the first instance on reversing their momentum right now, and putting them in a position where they suddenly begin to realise that they’re likely to lose,” he said.
Gates also said the US would not pursue Taliban leaders in Pakistan and that it was up to Islamabad to address the threat posed by the terrorists to its territory.
His comments followed reports that said the White House had granted authority to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to expand a bombing campaign in Pakistan by unmanned aircraft to strike the Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives.
“Pakistan is a sovereign government. We are in a partnership with them. I think at this point it’s up to the Pakistani military to deal with this problem,” Gates said.
He added that the US had confidence that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was secure despite the threat posed by the insurgents.
“We’re comfortable” with the security of the country’s atomic weapons, Gates said.
The US Defence Secretary said Washington did not know where Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was and had lacked reliable information on his whereabouts for years.
Referring to the last time US intelligence had a fix on Bin Laden’s whereabouts, Gates said, “I think it’s been years.”
Seperately, talking to CNN, US special envoy Richard Holbrooke said, “To me the most important issue for our success is dealing with the [terrorists’] sanctuary in Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton refused to rule out talks with the Taliban for a settlement of the Afghan war, but set conditions.
“They have to renounce Al Qaeda, renounce violence,” Clinton told the ABC News “This Week” programme. “They have to be willing to abide by the constitution of Afghanistan and live peacefully.” agencies
I hope that Americans were this much sincere to us..... yeah they wont pursue but sending drones is no pursuing
