'Pak's negotiations with tribals pose a challenge to US'

Press Trust of India

May 8, 2008

Washington -- Pakistan's reported negotiations with tribal leaders in restive north-western parts, which are a "safe haven for thousands of militants", pose a "challenge" to the United States, the Chairman of US House Foreign Affairs Committee has said.

"The tribal regions of Pakistan provide safe haven for thousands of militants and terrorists who seek not only to destabilize Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan, but who also plan attacks around the globe," Howard Berman, the Chairman, said.

"However, recent reports of negotiations between the Government of Pakistan and tribal leaders present a challenge for the US. How can we balance the need to engage with certain tribal leaders but still hold firm against negotiating with terrorists who will continue to fight US and NATO troops in Afghanistan regardless of any truce?," the California Congressman said.

Citing a report of Government Accountability office, Berman alleged that the the funds "doled out" by US to support the fight against extremism in the region have been subject to "little to no internal oversight." "For example, why is the US government being asked to reimburse Pakistan for air defense radar maintenance? Al-Qaeda is not known to have an air force and the purpose of these funds is to support the fight against extremists -- not to boost Pakistan's conventional warfare capability," he said.

Meanwhile, a former US ambassador to India and the UN Thomas Pickering argued that Pakistan had "weakened" in its efforts in war against terrorism because of the "independent line" taken by the two ruling parties, and a shift away from the policies of Pervez Musharraf. MORE PTI SK "The two opposition parties, weakened by the loss of Benazir Bhutto, are not certain to be able to provide the kind of leadership desired to see the struggle against terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism inside Pakistan and in Afghanistan continue and move toward success" he said.

"Pakistan has shown itself, in the short term at least, weakened in this effort by the shift away from Musharraf and an increasingly independent line taken by the opposition parties who are acutely aware of the dangers but also wish to avoid being seen as US surrogates inside Pakistan," he said.

Pickering further added "Despite Pakistan's efforts over the past four and more years, the Taliban and al-Qaeda have not diminished in size and influence inside Afghanistan and by the reckoning of some have actually grown in strength and control." Welcoming the new government in Islamabad, a top Republican on the House Panel Ilena Ros-Lehtinen said that Washington had a "powerful interest" in the security and stability of Pakistan.

The new government confronts a "daunting agenda," including the elimination of safe havens for violent Islamist extremists and finding ways to marginalise the appeal of local Islamist militants, she added.