In meeting with Pakistan and Afghanistan leaders, Obama says fighting terror is common goal

CA Online and wire services
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-05-09

President Obama speaks to the media in the White House with Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari (R) May 6. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama said May 6 that the leaders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the U.S. met "as three sovereign nations joined by a common goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat" Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

In remarks delivered with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at the White House, Obama said the security of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the U.S. are linked.

Al-Qaeda and its allies are responsible for killing innocent civilians and challenging the democratically elected governments of the nations, Obama said. The U.S. has made a "lasting commitment [and] will not waiver" in its efforts to defeat extremists and support the Afghan and Pakistani governments, he said.

Obama's remarks came after a day of talks with Karzai and Zardari designed to help forge a more coordinated strategy against the resurgent extremists.

The talks were attended by the foreign, defence, intelligence and agriculture ministers from both countries. A number of senior officials, including U.S. Pakistan and Afghanistan envoy Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. David Petraeus, CIA Director Leon Panetta, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack also attended.

In addition to sending 21,000 more troops and trainers to Afghanistan, Obama has committed to implementing a surge in U.S. civilian personnel and aid to boost domestic support for both leaders. The Obama administration has voiced increased concern about recent Taliban and Al-Qaeda gains across much of southern Afghanistan and in Pakistan.

Zardari and Karzai pledged to work together with the U.S. to combat extremists and stabilise their two countries.

“While we will need high levels of support in days to come, we will also be far more transparent in our actions,” Zardari told the group. He also voiced assurances that the three countries “will stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the world to fight this cancer and this threat.”

Karzai said he was certain that implementation of the strategy outlined by President Obama will bring the needed relief for a better, more peaceful life in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. He promised Afghanistan will work hard to build confidence and trust with Pakistan to “wage a more effective struggle against terrorism and the violence that radicalism causes both in Pakistan and in Afghanistan and the danger that they pose to you in America and the rest of the world."

[CNN]

Bookmarking

Please comment on this article so that we can improve the experience of viewing this website.