Afghan Exit Strategy: Calling it 'Transition' wont change withdrawal
From the Blog pakistanledger - Afghan Exit Strategy: Calling it 'Transition' wont change withdrawal November 15th, 2010 Image via Wikipedia ISLAMABAD , Nov 14 (APP): United States Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke said United States is working on a transition strategy in Afghanistan by starting a phased withdrawal of its troops from the country in July 2011.The US special envoy said the process of combat troops withdrawal from Afghanistan would begin in July next year and will be completed in four years in a phased manner.He stressed that the process of withdrawal is not an exit strategy but a transition strategy. Holbrooke, who is in Islamabad to represent his country at the Pakistan Development Forum , was speaking in a Special Roundtable discussion arranged by Radio Pakistan here on Sunday. Responding to a question, Richard Holbrooke said the United States committed a mistake by abandoning Pakistan and Afghanistan after Soviet withdrawal from the region in 1989 but it would not repeat the mistake. He said they want to return full sovereignty to people and government of Afghanistan. There will be a summit of NATO countries next week in Lisbon which will be attended by President Obama and President Hamid Karzai will be invited to discuss issues, he said adding US and other countries including Pakistan support the government of President Karzai and Taliban will have to live with this reality. He said sources of funding for terrorists and militants come from outside Pakistan and through extortion of supply convoys. Funding of terrorism is a serious issue and they are addressing it, he remarked. Holbrooke said he will make announcements at the meeting of the Pakistan Development Forum on Monday to demonstrate absolute commitment of US for assistance to Pakistan. Holbrooke said the United States has so far provided about half a billion worth of assistance to Pakistan so that it can cope with the aftermath of the devastating floods. Replying to a question, he said the PDF meeting is not a pledging session but the friends of Pakistan will listen to the priorities of the government and discuss plans. He said 60 percent of the 5.3 billion dollars pledges made at the Tokyo moot of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan have materialized so far. The US Special Envoy appreciated the democratic government of Pakistan for initiating the difficult decision of tabling pieces of legislation in the National Assembly for imposition of flood tax and Reformed General Sales Tax. He said the world will assist Pakistan in addressing the challenge posed by floods but mobilization of domestic resources would send a positive signal to the outside world that the country was serious in helping itself. He said Pakistan is one of the most under-taxed countries in the world and it is obligation of the rich to contribute from their income to mitigate sufferings of the people in distress. He said the United States has worked to bridge trust deficit with Pakistan and the leadership of the two countries have personal rapport. Holbrooke said he was personally aware of the enormous sacrifices made by Pakistan Army in the war against terror and that too in difficult terrains like Waziristan, Swat, FATA, Dir and Buner. When asked whether statement of President Obama to support India's bid to seek permanent membership of the UN Security Council would be unhelpful in reducing tension between Pakistan and India, he said the United States favours greater understanding between the two countries. He said the US leadership has repeatedly stated that the two countries should work out their differences. He said the ability of the United States to talk freely and candidly with both Pakistan and India would help in resolving issues. He told a questioner that Pakistan and Afghanistan will have to cooperate to resolve the issue of terrorism. If Pakistan wishes to play a role in the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan, it would be welcomed. To a question, Holbrooke said the operation in North Waziristan would be a tactical decision to be made by Pakistan Army and the government. At the moment, Pakistan army feels that it does not have the resources for the purpose, he added. Related articles $375 million 150 MW wind power project to be competed by 2013 (rupeenews.com) Holbrooke numbers don’t add up: Is he lying? (rupeenews.com) . Read Full Post
China's trip to Delhi hits Kashmir snag
From the Blog pakistanledger - China's trip to Delhi hits Kashmir snag November 15th, 2010 India on Sunday discussed with China its concerns over stapled visas to Kashmiris, as the two countries prepared for the routine visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to New Delhi next month. With Beijing's activism on Kashmir causing much concern in New Delhi, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao may come to India on an official visit as early as December that will seek to iron out a host of irritants and dispel the impression of rivalry among rising Asian powers. 'Efforts are on to have the Chinese premier's visit in December. Dates are being negotiated,' well-placed sources told IANS, adding that if mutually satisfactory dates can't be agreed, then Wen's visit could take place early next year. Bharat’s External Affairs Minister S M Krishna did have a 70-minute one to one meeting with Chinese Foreign Minsiter. The meeting held on the sidelines of the Russia-India-China trilateral meet on Sunday. Barely a month ahead of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India next month, New Delhi has made it requested Beijing to be sensitive to Jammu & Kashmir issue as India has done in the case of Chinese sensitivities in Tibet and Taiwan. However, the Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Yang stuck to his position, and affirmed his point of view and did not even raise the issue of New Delhi having frozen high-level military exchanges after Beijing conveyed that the Northern Army Commander would have to be considered for a stapled visa as he is in-charge of a "disputed area". Giving out details of these talks, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said: "Our minister (Krishna) referred to the need to show mutual sensitivity and that the Chinese side needs to be sensitive to our concerns in J&K like India has been sensitive to Chinese concerns on Taiwan and Tibet." Yang, on his part, clearly set the record straight that China has an even-handed approach on the issue and wants India and Pakistan to resolve the matter through dialogue. Delhi fretted the Chinese stand because the Sino-Pakistan relationship is at quite a different level and these questions are largely irrelevant in that relationship. Significantly, on India's quest for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, China on Sunday confirmed its willingness to "increase consultations and communications with India and other countries” (read Pakistan). The Chinese side had never suggested such discussions in the past and the first indications came in official reaction to US President Barack Obama's endorsement to India's candidature. Besides this, the two sides agreed to formalise an annual meeting between the two foreign ministers. This was first mooted by Krishna when he visited China to mark the establishment of 60 years of diplomatic relations. Rao disclosed that Krishna invited Yang to visit India early next year and that the latter has accepted the invitation. The Manmohan-Wen meeting will be followed by that of the visit of Zhou Yongkang, one of the most senior members of China's powerful Politburo, to Delhi next week. Zhou is expected to call on Manmohan Singh and meet External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna. The two sides are also likely to hold their 14th round of boundary talks next month in a bid to impart a momentum to the negotiations that haven't made much headway, specially with Beijing's increased hawkishness over Arunachal Pradesh. The boundary talks, led by National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and China's State Councillor Dai Bingguo, will also provide an opportunity for two senior officials to prepare the agenda for the Manmohan-Wen talks in New Delhi. Wen last visited India in April 2005 that led to the finalisation of guiding principles and political parameters for the resolution of the boundary dispute between the countries. Related articles Amid Kashmir anxiety, Chinese Premier to visit India (topinews.com) . Read Full Post
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