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  • Pakistan not supporting Taliban, says NATO commander

    Tuesday, October 10, 2006

    Pakistan not supporting Taliban, says NATO commander

    ISLAMABAD: General David Richards, the commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan, said on Monday that Pakistan was not supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan. Speaking to Geo television, the NATO commander, who arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit on Monday, denied reports that he had come with evidence that Islamabad was supporting the Taliban.

    He said that these reports were baseless and rubbish. The Taliban were being supported by poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, which funded their weapons purchases, he said. He said he had no information about the whereabouts of Taliban leader Mullah Umar. He praised Pakistan’s contribution in the war against terrorism, and welcomed the peace agreement between Pakistan’s government and tribal elders in North Waziristan, saying it was a good example and should be followed by others.

    He denied that NATO forces were in contact with Taliban in Afghanistan, but they were in contact with local tribal elders in Helmand for a peace agreement in the area. He said that Afghanistan, Pakistan and Britain were partners in the war against terrorism and his meeting with President Musharraf would be a friendly one.

    http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-10-2006_pg1_5

  • #2
    This clears a lot. :)

    Comment


    • #3
      Pakistan army to join Nato in Afghanistan


      ISLAMABAD (updated on: October 10, 2006, 19:39 PST): Nato's commander in Afghanistan met President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday amid media reports suggesting the Western alliance was losing patience with Pakistani efforts to quell the Taliban insurgency.

      In an interview with a private TV channel taped before the meeting, British General David Richards denied he would deliver evidence that Pakistani intelligence was helping the insurgents.

      "That is not the reason for one moment that I've come here," he told the channel.


      Britain's Sunday Times had reported this week that Richards would confront President Musharraf over allegations of covert Pakistani support for the insurgents, and would provide evidence of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar's presence in Quetta.

      Richards said he would be seeking more help from Pakistan, but others needed to try harder too.

      "Yes, we all want to do more because we still have a problem. Lots of other people can do more as well -- the people who I'm working with in Afghanistan and the international community," Richards said.

      As part of a drive to enhance co-ordination, Pakistani army officers would soon be joining Nato's headquarters in Kabul, Richards said.

      Richards met President Musharraf in Rawalpindi.

      A statement released by the Pakistani military said the Nato general had said that it was understood that "the vast majority of problems in Afghanistan were emanating from within the country", and that the Taliban insurgency was being funded by drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

      Nato took responsibility for security in the whole of Afghanistan last week, when the United States transferred control of the eastern provinces and its troops serving there to Nato command.

      Richards, who now has more than 30,000 troops under his command, had been quoted on Sunday in an interview as saying that Afghanistan was reaching a "tipping point" and needed more troops to speed up reconstruction and development five years after a Taliban government was toppled.

      His comments corresponded to President Musharraf's warning that President Hamid Karzai's government in Kabul risked seeing the insurgency develop into a "people's war" unless it made Afghans feel safer and better off.

      Link: Pakistan army to join Nato in Afghanistan

      Comment


      • #4
        No evidence against Pakistan: NATO

        Nirupama Subramanian

        ISLAMABAD: The commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan who met President Pervez Musharaff here on Tuesday in the midst of a controversy over Pakistan's alleged assistance to the Taliban, showered public praise on Islamabad for its assistance in the war on terror.

        Gen. David Richards said the ISAF wanted to build on Pakistan's contribution and "expand cooperation" with it to defeat the Taliban and terrorists.

        Since last week, NATO has taken control of security operations in all of Afghanistan, after 12,000 American troops in the east came under its command. British media reported over the weekend that NATO commanders were asking their Governments to get tough with Pakistan over the role of the ISI in assisting the Taliban launch attacks in Afghanistan.

        But Gen. Richards, who flew in here on Monday amid media reports that his mission was to present Pakistan with evidence of its involvement in the Taliban insurgency, including its activities in the Baloch provincial capital Quetta, told a private television channel that was not his intention "for one moment".

        "I have brought no evidence against the ISI and this is all a propaganda campaign," he said to Geo TV in an interview.

        The British general praised Pakistan's role in the war on terror and said he could not think of many other countries that were doing more. He said the question that remained was if still more could be done, and that was not just to Pakistan, but also all others involved in Afghanistan.

        Reconstruction work

        The general had said in an interview on Sunday that Afghanistan would lose the war to the Taliban unless reconstruction work in the south was speeded up to ensure people did not switch allegiance to the insurgents. He also spoke of "partnership" with Pakistan instead of confrontation.

        Gen. Musharraf reiterated Pakistan's support for a strong, secure and stable Afghanistan and said it was in the interest of the development of the entire region, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

        He recalled that in his recent meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, and later in Washington, they discussed ways to increase co-operation in the fight against terrorism. He said the agreement with tribals in North Waziristan was aimed at checking the activities of terrorists and the Taliban.

        http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/11/s...1107441600.htm

        Comment


        • #5
          No evidence against Pakistan: NATO

          Nirupama Subramanian

          ISLAMABAD: The commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan who met President Pervez Musharaff here on Tuesday in the midst of a controversy over Pakistan's alleged assistance to the Taliban, showered public praise on Islamabad for its assistance in the war on terror.

          Gen. David Richards said the ISAF wanted to build on Pakistan's contribution and "expand cooperation" with it to defeat the Taliban and terrorists.

          Since last week, NATO has taken control of security operations in all of Afghanistan, after 12,000 American troops in the east came under its command. British media reported over the weekend that NATO commanders were asking their Governments to get tough with Pakistan over the role of the ISI in assisting the Taliban launch attacks in Afghanistan.

          But Gen. Richards, who flew in here on Monday amid media reports that his mission was to present Pakistan with evidence of its involvement in the Taliban insurgency, including its activities in the Baloch provincial capital Quetta, told a private television channel that was not his intention "for one moment".

          "I have brought no evidence against the ISI and this is all a propaganda campaign," he said to Geo TV in an interview.

          The British general praised Pakistan's role in the war on terror and said he could not think of many other countries that were doing more. He said the question that remained was if still more could be done, and that was not just to Pakistan, but also all others involved in Afghanistan.

          Reconstruction work

          The general had said in an interview on Sunday that Afghanistan would lose the war to the Taliban unless reconstruction work in the south was speeded up to ensure people did not switch allegiance to the insurgents. He also spoke of "partnership" with Pakistan instead of confrontation.

          Gen. Musharraf reiterated Pakistan's support for a strong, secure and stable Afghanistan and said it was in the interest of the development of the entire region, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

          He recalled that in his recent meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, and later in Washington, they discussed ways to increase co-operation in the fight against terrorism. He said the agreement with tribals in North Waziristan was aimed at checking the activities of terrorists and the Taliban.

          http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/11/s...1107441600.htm

          Comment


          • #6
            dude... one general while visiting Pakistan says that and I wonder why... that is merely a political voice, not reality... and I wouldn't be surprised if he was forced to say it by the political clowns at the back. ALL NATO commanders in Afghanistan from ALL countries happen to say something else...
            Cow is the only animal that not only inhales oxygen, but also exhales it.
            -Rekha Arya, Former Minister of Animal Husbandry

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Tronic View Post
              dude... one general while visiting Pakistan says that and I wonder why... that is merely a political voice, not reality... and I wouldn't be surprised if he was forced to say it by the political clowns at the back. ALL NATO commanders in Afghanistan from ALL countries happen to say something else...
              neo seems DESPERATE!

              Comment


              • #8
                British Nato commander is attempting to pacify Mushy's tushy which went on fire after the same commander levelled charges on ISI. But why so much of discrepancy between his two statements? Is he implying that ISI is supporting Taleban by itself without taking the army & government into confidence?
                If at first you don't succeed, call it v1.0!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by ab041937 View Post
                  British Nato commander is attempting to pacify Mushy's tushy which went on fire after the same commander levelled charges on ISI. But why so much of discrepancy between his two statements? Is he implying that ISI is supporting Taleban by itself without taking the army & government into confidence?
                  NICE Q!!!
                  rolf!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Starseige,

                    You said you are Sri Lankan then, why do you have the picture of Arjun(3rd of the pandavas) in your signature? Its just my curiosity.

                    Rgds
                    AB
                    If at first you don't succeed, call it v1.0!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by ab041937 View Post
                      Starseige,

                      You said you are Sri Lankan then, why do you have the picture of Arjun(3rd of the pandavas) in your signature? Its just my curiosity.

                      Rgds
                      AB
                      He's a Hindu(I think).

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Tronic View Post
                        dude... one general while visiting Pakistan says that and I wonder why... that is merely a political voice, not reality...
                        What matters is that he's made an statement and denied the previous allegations and not presented any proof of involvement.

                        and I wouldn't be surprised if he was forced to say it by the political clowns at the back. ALL NATO commanders in Afghanistan from ALL countries happen to say something else...
                        Afghanistan does that to the best of the best. Ask the Russians ;)

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by starsiege View Post
                          neo seems DESPERATE!
                          You don't know what I'm made of son.
                          Now be a good boy and avoid getting personal!

                          Comment


                          • #14


                            "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

                            I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

                            HAKUNA MATATA

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Wednesday, October 11, 2006

                              ‘Excellent cooperation’ in fighting terrorists:

                              Pakistan receives NATO applause


                              * Richards says most Afghan problems internal
                              * Waziristan deal ‘could set an example’
                              * Pakistan committed against Taliban: Musharraf

                              By Rana Qaisar

                              ISLAMABAD: General David Richards, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, on Tuesday praised Pakistan’s “excellent cooperation” in the fight against terrorists, an official statement said.

                              Gen Richards said this in a one-hour meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. The official statement quoted the commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) as saying that the primary purpose of his visit to Pakistan was to thank the president, the government, armed forces and security agencies of Pakistan for their “excellent cooperation” in the fight against terrorism.

                              “The ISAF wants to build on this and further expand cooperation to defeat the Taliban and terrorists. The ISAF fully appreciates that a vast majority of problems of Afghanistan are emanating from within the country, having deep roots due to the fact that the country had remained highly unstable for over two decades,” the statement quoted him as saying.

                              The British general said it was believed that the Taliban were being funded through the narcotics trade and other criminal activities.

                              Gen Musharraf assured Gen Richards that Islamabad was fully on board to fight the Taliban. “Pakistan is assisting Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism, besides hosting over 2.5 million Afghan refugees,” the president told the British general.

                              Amidst reports that the international coalition wants Pakistan to do more in the war against terrorism, the president briefed the NATO commander about the steps Pakistan has taken and referred to the agreement in North Waziristan, which was aimed at checking the activities of terrorists and militants. “Pakistan is extending considerable assistance to Afghanistan for its reconstruction and provided various incentives to boost trade relations between the two countries,” he said.

                              Gen Musharraf also briefed him about his recent meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul and in Washington, where they discussed ways to expand cooperation in various fields including counter-terrorism.

                              Earlier, Gen Richards denied a report in the Sunday Times that he would “confront” Gen Musharraf with evidence of the alleged support of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies for Taliban. “That is not the reason for one moment that I came here,” he told a private TV channel. “I come here to further develop our relationship with the Pakistan Army.”He praised Pakistan’s actions, but added it could still work even harder. “I don’t know of many countries that could possibly be doing more. Could it do more still? Yes, we all want to do more because we still have a problem,” he said.

                              He also defended the North Waziristan deal. “I think played rightly, with luck and good judgment ... this could set an example how we should deal with these problems.”

                              http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-10-2006_pg1_1

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