CNews WASHINGTON: The White House has said that the United States wants to work with all branches of the Pakistani government to defeat terrorism in Fata, which remains a major source of concern for all.
At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack underlined Washington’s support to the new Pakistani government, pointing out that the US “worked with Pakistan on a plan to help Pakistani civilians strengthen democratic institution,” and “to uphold the rule of law.”Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not only declared an unequivocal support to the new civilian government but also said that “Pakistan now will need to find a way to have very solid civilian control of the armed forces.”At the White House, spokesman Tony Fratto stressed the same point in a different way, making it clear that the United States no longer has favourites in Pakistan.“We expect to continue to work in cooperation with the entire government of Pakistan to get after terrorism in the Fata region and the border. And I think everyone is committed to that goal,” he said.His statement is markedly different from previous White House statements on this issue which either underlined President Pervez Musharraf’s critical role in the war against terror or emphasised the need to stay engaged with the Pakistani military.Mr Fratto also distanced the White House from the doubts expressed by others in the administration that some members of the ruling coalition in Pakistan may not be fully committed to the war against terrorism, when he declared that “everyone is committed.”Mr McCormack, also emphasised Washington’s commitment to democracy, pointing out that the US was providing assistance to reinforce the foundation of a free society.He included “good governance and judicial independence” among the basic ingredients of a free society. Previously, US officials avoided mentioning the judicial dispute in their statements on Pakistan.Meanwhile, both the White House and the State Department acknowledged that while the United States has made progress in fighting terrorism in the Fata, it has not yet succeeded in defeating them.“There’s no question there’s more to be done in that region,” said Mr Fratto. “We have more work to do there and we need to do it.”Mr McCormack conceded that “progress doesn’t mean that you have succeeded … while progress has been made (there’s still) a lot to do, a lot to do.”Their admission followed a US government report that the Bush administration has failed in subduing Al Qaeda militants operating from this area and had no comprehensive policy for dealing with the situation.“I think everyone who has spoken to that issue of the borders has talked about what a difficult challenge it is,” said Mr Fratto while explaining the difficulties the United States and its Pakistani allies face in fighting terrorism in the tribal belt.Mr McCormack noted that the Fata region was never fully under control of the Pakistani government.“The area remains a source of concern not only for us and the Pakistanis, but also the Afghan government.”Mr McCormack noted that since the Fata bordered Afghanistan, the militants were using it for cross-border transit from Pakistan into Afghanistan, and for launching attacks inside Afghanistan.The State Department spokesman, however, said that the United States and Pakistan have developed a programme of cooperation “to address the fact that this is an ungoverned area.”
At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack underlined Washington’s support to the new Pakistani government, pointing out that the US “worked with Pakistan on a plan to help Pakistani civilians strengthen democratic institution,” and “to uphold the rule of law.”Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not only declared an unequivocal support to the new civilian government but also said that “Pakistan now will need to find a way to have very solid civilian control of the armed forces.”At the White House, spokesman Tony Fratto stressed the same point in a different way, making it clear that the United States no longer has favourites in Pakistan.“We expect to continue to work in cooperation with the entire government of Pakistan to get after terrorism in the Fata region and the border. And I think everyone is committed to that goal,” he said.His statement is markedly different from previous White House statements on this issue which either underlined President Pervez Musharraf’s critical role in the war against terror or emphasised the need to stay engaged with the Pakistani military.Mr Fratto also distanced the White House from the doubts expressed by others in the administration that some members of the ruling coalition in Pakistan may not be fully committed to the war against terrorism, when he declared that “everyone is committed.”Mr McCormack, also emphasised Washington’s commitment to democracy, pointing out that the US was providing assistance to reinforce the foundation of a free society.He included “good governance and judicial independence” among the basic ingredients of a free society. Previously, US officials avoided mentioning the judicial dispute in their statements on Pakistan.Meanwhile, both the White House and the State Department acknowledged that while the United States has made progress in fighting terrorism in the Fata, it has not yet succeeded in defeating them.“There’s no question there’s more to be done in that region,” said Mr Fratto. “We have more work to do there and we need to do it.”Mr McCormack conceded that “progress doesn’t mean that you have succeeded … while progress has been made (there’s still) a lot to do, a lot to do.”Their admission followed a US government report that the Bush administration has failed in subduing Al Qaeda militants operating from this area and had no comprehensive policy for dealing with the situation.“I think everyone who has spoken to that issue of the borders has talked about what a difficult challenge it is,” said Mr Fratto while explaining the difficulties the United States and its Pakistani allies face in fighting terrorism in the tribal belt.Mr McCormack noted that the Fata region was never fully under control of the Pakistani government.“The area remains a source of concern not only for us and the Pakistanis, but also the Afghan government.”Mr McCormack noted that since the Fata bordered Afghanistan, the militants were using it for cross-border transit from Pakistan into Afghanistan, and for launching attacks inside Afghanistan.The State Department spokesman, however, said that the United States and Pakistan have developed a programme of cooperation “to address the fact that this is an ungoverned area.”
