‘Success of new Afghan strategy depends on Pakistan’: US urges

[Neo]

‘Success of new Afghan strategy depends on Pakistan’: US urges Pakistan to expand offensive

* NY Times claims James Jones delivered Obama’s letter to Zardari
* Obama presents range of fresh incentives to Islamabad

WASHINGTON: The US has stepped up pressure on Pakistan to expand its fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda, warning that the success of the new Afghanistan strategy depends on it, The New York Times reported on Monday.

Obama sent a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari saying he expects the Pakistani leader to rally political and national security institutions in a united campaign against extremists – reported the Times, citing a US official who was briefed on the letter’s contents.

In his letter to Zardari, Obama offered a range of new incentives to the Pakistanis for their cooperation, including enhanced intelligence sharing and military cooperation, said the Times. The report said the letter was delivered by US National Security Adviser James Jones, who held meetings with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad on Friday.

Jones also warned Pakistani officials that Washington’s new Afghanistan strategy would work only if Pakistan broadens its fight beyond the Taliban attacking cities to “groups using havens in Pakistan for plotting attacks against US troops in Afghanistan”, said the Times, citing American officials briefed on the confidential talks. Jones also praised the current operation in South Waziristan, but urged Pakistan to combat extremists who had fled into North Waziristan, reported the Times.

Jones’ press secretary, Mike Hammer, would not discuss what was said in the meetings or whether a letter was delivered.

In Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit confirmed Jones had delivered a letter, but declined to give details. “It was a diplomatic communication,” said Basit, who also declined to comment on the reported US call for Pakistan to do more.

For their part, Pakistani officials have told the Americans they harbour two deep fears about Obama’s new strategy: the US would add too many troops on the Afghan side of the border and the American effort will end too soon, said the Times.

Their first concern, described by officials on both sides of the recent discussions, is that if Obama commits an additional 30,000 or more troops, it would inevitably push more Taliban fighters across the border into Pakistani territory and complicate the South Waziristan offensive.

[Neo]

We will decide what to do after consulting army: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the US share the common objective of defeating militancy, but Pakistan would not be prodded into military operations by outsiders, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Monday. “We will not do anything, more or less, at the prodding of others. We will see what are Pakistan’s requirements and priorities,” Qureshi told reporters. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit confirmed Jones had delivered a letter, but declined to give details. Qureshi told reporters later that Pakistan and the US shared the common objective of defeating the Taliban and Al Qaeda, but the government would decide on military operations in consultation with the armed forces.