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We wont pursue Taliban leaders in Pakistan: Gates
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obamas decision to bolster the US military presence in Afghanistan is aimed in part at bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table on US terms, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday.I think that the likelihood of the leadership of the Taliban, or senior leaders, being willing to accept the conditions depends in the first instance on reversing their momentum right now, and putting them in a position where they suddenly begin to realise that theyre likely to lose, he said. Gates also said the US would not pursue Taliban leaders in Pakistan and that it was up to Islamabad to address the threat posed by the terrorists to its territory. His comments followed reports that said the White House had granted authority to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to expand a bombing campaign in Pakistan by unmanned aircraft to strike the Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives. Pakistan is a sovereign government. We are in a partnership with them. I think at this point its up to the Pakistani military to deal with this problem, Gates said. He added that the US had confidence that Pakistans nuclear arsenal was secure despite the threat posed by the insurgents. Were comfortable with the security of the countrys atomic weapons, Gates said.
Referring to the last time US intelligence had a fix on Bin Ladens whereabouts, Gates said, I think its been years.
Posted by: Steve White 2009-12-07 |
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