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| India-Pakistan |
| Al Qaeda network severely degraded: Holbrooke |
| 2010-06-20 |
| [Dawn] Al Qaeda's network had been "severely degraded" by joint US-Pakistani efforts, the US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan said on Saturday. "The al Qaeda network has been severely degraded in recent years in efforts that both our countries work on," Holbrooke told a joint news conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Asked whom he would hold responsible if al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and the Afghan Taliban chief, Mullah Mohammad Omar, were hiding somewhere along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Holbrooke demurred. "Many of their associates have been apprehended or killed. Even those two people ... are still at large but they are under intense pressure," he said. Holbrooke praised Pakistan's sacrifices in the fight against militants on its soil and said he hoped more would be achieved. "In regard to the war itself, Pakistan has made progress, but it doesn't mean that we've reached the end of the road. This is a tough, long struggle and much more needs to be done," he said. "People all over the world should be more aware of the sacrifices Pakistani people and the army have made in pushing back militants in Swat, South Waziristan and other northwestern regions." Holbrooke added. He said that the US did not only increase aid to Pakistan's military but also extended its support to other sectors as well. Holbrooke claimed that the Obama administration was well aware of Pakistan's energy demands and the issue was a top priority for the US. Holbrooke announced $11.1 million in humanitarian aid for Pakistanis suffering from the effects of the conflict with homegrown militants in the northwest of the country. "In July I'm expecting Secretary Clinton to visit Islamabad for a second session of the strategic dialogue," Qureshi told the joint news conference. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Holbrooke told a joint news conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. finally Holbrooke found someone to meet with. Musta caught Qureshi unawares |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-06-20 09:56 |