US gives Pakistan two weeks to eliminate Taliban

[Salahadin]

WASHINGTON/BUNER VALLEY: Virtually putting Pakistan on notice, the US has said it is looking for concrete action by the government there to destroy
the Taliban operating out of its territory in the next two weeks before determining its next course of action. This came even as Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day on Friday, killing up to 60 of militants.

Gen David Petraeus, Commander of US Central Command, has told US officials the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive, Fox News reported. Petraeus made this assessment in talks with lawmakers and Obama administration officials this week, individuals familiar with the discussions said.
“The Pakistanis have run out of excuses” and are “finally getting serious” about combating the threat from Taliban and al-Qaida extremists, the general is reported to have told the officials.

The TV network reported that Petraeus also said wearily that “we’ve heard it all before” from the Pakistanis and he is looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining US’ next course of action.

Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day, killing up to 60 of them. The militants were still in control of parts of Buner valley, though troops had secured the main town of Daggar on Wednesday after helicopter dropped troops behind enemy lines.

The ground troops have established links with the soldiers airlifted to Daggar, but heavy fighting was going on elsewhere in the valley, military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said.

In another district of the region, Upper Dir, over 50 militants stormed the headquarters of a paramilitary force early on Friday and kidnapped 10 of them.

NWFP authorities on Friday opened talks with Sufi Mohammad, an influential cleric of the region who has acted as a go-between with the Taliban, in a renewed effort to stop violence.

Untrusted source
US gives Pakistan two weeks to eliminate Taliban - US - World - The Times of India

 

[blain2]

Times of India??? As if this problem can be resolved as per the US ultimatum...given that on the other side of the border, the Afghan National Army is wholly combat ineffective, it really makes me wonder why all the stress is on Pakistan only to do more? We are putting it out harder than the ones who have the real problem.

This is the real state of ANA, aka "The Hashish Army":

 

[waraich66]

Funny news,US could not control Talaban in seven years how PA could control them in two weeks.
India is supporting insurgency in NWFP.

PA should first break their supply line of money and arms.

 

[blain2]

For whatever this Times of India report is worth, the US state department has denied any such suggestions:

US quashes two-week deadline speculation
By Anwar Iqbal
Saturday, 02 May, 2009 | 03:15 AM PST |

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/...ulation--bi-07
WASHINGTON: The United States said on Friday that it had not given Pakistan a two-week deadline to finish off religious militants but expected Islamabad to continue its current military operation against the extremists.

'We are under no illusions. It’s going to take more than two days worth of action,’ State Department spokesman Robert Wood told a news briefing in Washington.

‘It’s going to take consistent, determined and forceful action. And Pakistan seems committed to that. And we’re willing to be as helpful as we can in terms of dealing with the militants,’ he said.

On Thursday, the US media quoted a top US general, David Petraeus, as saying that if militants were not defeated within the next two weeks, the Pakistani government may collapse.

‘I don’t know where this two-week timeframe came from, but we have said very clearly that we believe the Pakistanis need to take action against these extremist elements,’ said Mr Wood when asked to comment on the statement attributed to Gen Petraeus.

‘And clearly, the Pakistanis are, trying to do that. We’re going to be working with them, providing assistance where we can.’

He said that other countries around the world who believed it’s critical to international security to deal with the Taliban would also support Pakistan. Mr Wood rejected the suggestion that the US had persuaded Pakistan to launch the Dir operation.

‘Obviously, Pakistan is doing this in its own national security interests. And we will be there to help them,’ he said. ‘It’s important that these extremists be dealt with, and we’re going to continue to work with them and others.’

The last couple of days, he said, had been ‘positive’ in terms of Pakistan taking action against the militants but the US had set no timeline for Islamabad.

‘This is not something you can put in a timeline in terms of taking action. It has to be consistent, decisive, and we need to understand that this is not something we’re going to be able to deal with in two days, two weeks, two months. This is going to take time.’

The State Department spokesman said it was important that Pakistan made ‘110 per cent effort’ in this fight and it did seem willing to go in that direction. ‘And we’ll continue to try to help them if they move in that direction.’

Mr Wood said he was not surprised by the reports that the Taliban had imposed a tax on religious minorities in the areas under their control.

‘These are ruthless killers, the Taliban. And they’ll do anything they can to upset Pakistan’s and Afghanistan’s fragile democracies,’ he said.

‘This is why it’s important that we, the international community, cooperate in trying to rid this region of these extremists. And the sooner we can accomplish that mission, the better.’

 

[waraich66]

US(Regan Regime and Zia) planted jehadi mullah seeds in NWFP.

There is no alternative other then US /NATO forces and PA should develop long term plan.
Present strategy will fail if continued.

PA need support of local pushtoon tribes high jacked by Talaban.

 

[third eye]

The time line may not as imp as the acceptance that the Talib need to be eliminated by the PA - ASAP.


Petraeus says next two weeks critical to Pakistan govt. - GEO.tv

 

[IceCold]

i don't think the Americans are in any position to give us dead lines over something that is a Pakistani area in the first place and if they do the end results will be counter productive for both Pakistan and the US. The only advantage that any one will gain out of it will be the talibans. PA does not need dictation as to how to clear out the mess and it would be good if the GOP conveys the same to the US.

 

[white_pawn]

See PA can eliminate Taliban, but not within 2 weeks its not that easy. It can be done but will take some time and its in pakistans intrest to get tis done as soon as possible as its effecting pakistan more than US or any other country, as some part of the battle is on pakistan's ground. I dont think any time frame would be issued by US, bcoz even they know its not possible.

 

[fatman17]

^^^the above posts are complete distortion of what the US said! it dosnt deserve a reply!
take my advice and B***** off if you can!

 

[duhastmish]

Its in wrong section - ) its a joke loooooooooooool
United states couldnt finish even 10% of taleban in 10 yrs and they want pakistan to finish taleban in 10 days. hahahahaha
these guys need to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[fatman17]

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Friday that it had not given Pakistan a two-week deadline to finish off religious militants but expected Islamabad to continue its current military operation against the extremists.

'We are under no illusions. It’s going to take more than two days worth of action,’ State Department spokesman Robert Wood told a news briefing in Washington.

‘It’s going to take consistent, determined and forceful action. And Pakistan seems committed to that. And we’re willing to be as helpful as we can in terms of dealing with the militants,’ he said.

On Thursday, the US media quoted a top US general, David Petraeus, as saying that if militants were not defeated within the next two weeks, the Pakistani government may collapse.

‘I don’t know where this two-week timeframe came from, but we have said very clearly that we believe the Pakistanis need to take action against these extremist elements,’ said Mr Wood when asked to comment on the statement attributed to Gen Petraeus.

‘And clearly, the Pakistanis are, trying to do that. We’re going to be working with them, providing assistance where we can.’

He said that other countries around the world who believed it’s critical to international security to deal with the Taliban would also support Pakistan. Mr Wood rejected the suggestion that the US had persuaded Pakistan to launch the Dir operation.

‘Obviously, Pakistan is doing this in its own national security interests. And we will be there to help them,’ he said. ‘It’s important that these extremists be dealt with, and we’re going to continue to work with them and others.’

The last couple of days, he said, had been ‘positive’ in terms of Pakistan taking action against the militants but the US had set no timeline for Islamabad.

‘This is not something you can put in a timeline in terms of taking action. It has to be consistent, decisive, and we need to understand that this is not something we’re going to be able to deal with in two days, two weeks, two months. This is going to take time.’

The State Department spokesman said it was important that Pakistan made ‘110 per cent effort’ in this fight and it did seem willing to go in that direction. ‘And we’ll continue to try to help them if they move in that direction.’

Mr Wood said he was not surprised by the reports that the Taliban had imposed a tax on religious minorities in the areas under their control.

‘These are ruthless killers, the Taliban. And they’ll do anything they can to upset Pakistan’s and Afghanistan’s fragile democracies,’ he said.

‘This is why it’s important that we, the international community, cooperate in trying to rid this region of these extremists. And the sooner we can accomplish that mission, the better.’
DAWN.COM | World | US quashes two-week deadline speculation

 

[FC-20]

lol they havent been able to finish taliban n look the way they r barking at us, cum on americans wake up..

 

[MZUBAIR]

Some times i feel that Americans are getting crazy.............
Few months ago they were shouting and blaming against ISI and Pakistan Army and they were supporting Pakistani leaders. But at the moment they are trying to get closer to Pak Army (ISI is an extension part of Pakistan Army under the control of Pakistan PM) and showing opposite attitude against Pakistani Government.

Obama Says Pakistan’s Government Is ‘Very Fragile’ (Update1)


April 30 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama said the government in Pakistan is “very fragile” and expressed concern about security in the nuclear-armed nation, as Pakistani forces battled Taliban militants in the northwest.

The government doesn’t “seem to have the capacity to deliver basic services: schools, health care, rule of law and a judicial system that works for the majority of the people,” Obama said at a White House news conference last night.

The U.S. has “huge national security interests in making sure that Pakistan is stable and that you don’t end up having a nuclear-armed militant state,” Obama told reporters.

Obama has made tackling extremism in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan the central focus of U.S. foreign policy and is pressing the government in Islamabad to crack down on militants. Pakistan’s military this week attacked the Taliban with helicopter gunships and jets to halt an advance that brought fighters to within 100 kilometers (60 miles) of the capital, Islamabad.

At least 20 people were killed in the financial capital, Karachi, yesterday, said Wasim Ahmed, the city police chief, adding it was too early to say whether the violence was ethnic or political. President Asif Ali Zardari said the nation could ill afford such attacks in the southern city, while troops battled militants in the north.

‘Mortal Threat’

Pakistan’s government is beginning to recognize that “the obsession with India as the mortal threat to Pakistan has been misguided, and that their biggest threat right now comes internally,” Obama said.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947, two over the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir. U.S. military officials say tensions over Kashmir are diverting Pakistan from the fight against extremists.

Pakistan’s military recognizes the threat of nuclear weapons “falling into the wrong hands,” Obama told reporters, adding he is confident the nation’s atomic arsenal is secure.

Pakistan’s government is trying to reassert control in the northwest after the Taliban took advantage of a peace accord in the Swat Valley to push into neighboring areas.

More than 50 Taliban guerrillas were killed in the operation to secure Buner district, the closest Taliban ground forces have come to the capital, army spokesman Athar Abbas told reporters yesterday. As many as 75 militants were killed in Dir district earlier this week.

The Obama administration has criticized the peace accord that saw Islamic law introduced in seven northwestern districts, including Swat, Buner and Dir, and last week accused the government of “abdicating” to extremists.
Congressional Aid

U.S. officials were yesterday supportive of the offensive and asked Congress to approve $400 million to shore up the fight against extremists.

“The Pakistani government is undertaking concrete actions to demonstrate their commitment to counterinsurgency and counterterrorism,” Undersecretary of Defense Michele Flournoy told the House Armed Services Committee in Washington. “We must show our Pakistan partners that if they take decisive action against extremists, we will give them the support they need.”

The $400 million, requested earlier this month, would expand U.S. training and equipment for Pakistani forces to conduct counterinsurgency operations.

Military Technology

“Pakistan can and will defeat the Taliban,” Ambassador Husain Haqqani wrote in an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal yesterday. He called on the Obama administration to share military technology with Pakistan to help in the fight against terrorism.

Pakistan needs night vision equipment, radio jammers and a “larger, modernized fleet of helicopter gunships for ground support,” Haqqani said, adding the U.S. has been reluctant to share the technology because of concerns it could be used against India.

“Such concerns are misplaced,” the ambassador wrote. “Pakistanis understand that the primary threat to our homeland today is not from our neighbor to the east but from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on our border with Afghanistan.”

 

[Patriot]

Some times i feel that Americans are getting crazy.............
Few months ago they were shouting and blaming against ISI and Pakistan Army and they were supporting Pakistani leaders. But at the moment they are trying to get closer to Pak Army (ISI is an extension part of Pakistan Army under the control of Pakistan PM) and showing opposite attitude against Pakistani Government.

Obama Says Pakistan’s Government Is ‘Very Fragile’ (Update1)


April 30 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama said the government in Pakistan is “very fragile” and expressed concern about security in the nuclear-armed nation, as Pakistani forces battled Taliban militants in the northwest.

The government doesn’t “seem to have the capacity to deliver basic services: schools, health care, rule of law and a judicial system that works for the majority of the people,” Obama said at a White House news conference last night.

The U.S. has “huge national security interests in making sure that Pakistan is stable and that you don’t end up having a nuclear-armed militant state,” Obama told reporters.

Obama has made tackling extremism in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan the central focus of U.S. foreign policy and is pressing the government in Islamabad to crack down on militants. Pakistan’s military this week attacked the Taliban with helicopter gunships and jets to halt an advance that brought fighters to within 100 kilometers (60 miles) of the capital, Islamabad.

At least 20 people were killed in the financial capital, Karachi, yesterday, said Wasim Ahmed, the city police chief, adding it was too early to say whether the violence was ethnic or political. President Asif Ali Zardari said the nation could ill afford such attacks in the southern city, while troops battled militants in the north.

‘Mortal Threat’

Pakistan’s government is beginning to recognize that “the obsession with India as the mortal threat to Pakistan has been misguided, and that their biggest threat right now comes internally,” Obama said.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947, two over the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir. U.S. military officials say tensions over Kashmir are diverting Pakistan from the fight against extremists.

Pakistan’s military recognizes the threat of nuclear weapons “falling into the wrong hands,” Obama told reporters, adding he is confident the nation’s atomic arsenal is secure.

Pakistan’s government is trying to reassert control in the northwest after the Taliban took advantage of a peace accord in the Swat Valley to push into neighboring areas.

More than 50 Taliban guerrillas were killed in the operation to secure Buner district, the closest Taliban ground forces have come to the capital, army spokesman Athar Abbas told reporters yesterday. As many as 75 militants were killed in Dir district earlier this week.

The Obama administration has criticized the peace accord that saw Islamic law introduced in seven northwestern districts, including Swat, Buner and Dir, and last week accused the government of “abdicating” to extremists.
Congressional Aid

U.S. officials were yesterday supportive of the offensive and asked Congress to approve $400 million to shore up the fight against extremists.

“The Pakistani government is undertaking concrete actions to demonstrate their commitment to counterinsurgency and counterterrorism,” Undersecretary of Defense Michele Flournoy told the House Armed Services Committee in Washington. “We must show our Pakistan partners that if they take decisive action against extremists, we will give them the support they need.”

The $400 million, requested earlier this month, would expand U.S. training and equipment for Pakistani forces to conduct counterinsurgency operations.

Military Technology

“Pakistan can and will defeat the Taliban,” Ambassador Husain Haqqani wrote in an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal yesterday. He called on the Obama administration to share military technology with Pakistan to help in the fight against terrorism.

Pakistan needs night vision equipment, radio jammers and a “larger, modernized fleet of helicopter gunships for ground support,” Haqqani said, adding the U.S. has been reluctant to share the technology because of concerns it could be used against India.

“Such concerns are misplaced,” the ambassador wrote. “Pakistanis understand that the primary threat to our homeland today is not from our neighbor to the east but from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on our border with Afghanistan.”

In other words, they are frustrated by democratic government in Pakistan and now want another dictatorship .

 

[QADRI]

thats really an alarming news...what will happen after two weaks. If they wana us to fight Taliban so they should provide us support both financial and strategic, as Pakistan is facing many other internal crisis.