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| December 1, 2001 | Saturday | Ramazan 15, 1422 |
Rumsfeld lauds Pakistan’s role in anti-terror drive
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: The US defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld said on Friday that Pakistan had made significant contribution towards achieving the goals of the coalition in its fight against terrorism.
“Well it is a very significant contribution, and I think the president and his government have stepped forward and made an important decision that terrorism is an evil, a problem, a danger to the world and to its stability,” Rumsfeld told PTV.
He said that terrorism is harmful to human beings. It has killed hundreds and thousands across the globe over the years, and with the power of weapons today and the dangers that those weapons possess, the global terrorism becomes even more dangerous.
“So I think that, Pakistan and its leadership there has made a significant contribution in their vocal and public position that they have taken as a member of coalition,” said Rumsfeld.
STATE DEPARTMENT: Phillip Reeker, deputy spokesman at the state department while answering a question at a special briefing for foreign press representatives at the Foreign Press Centre on Thursday praised President Musharraf’s leadership, crediting him with having taken “brave and important decision”.
Reeker said: “I think President Musharraf and his government on behalf of the Pakistani people made brave and important decisions that showed a lot of foresight, forethought and understanding.
“President Musharraf saw that Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the Taliban had twisted Islam, had attempted to hijack a religion and to use it for their own criminal secular desires.”
He further said: “And I think the Pakistani people have understood that, and are supportive of Pakistan’s efforts to support this coalition.”
Reeker stressed that the US was working “very closely” with the Government of Pakistan in terms of the issues facing Pakistan and would continue to be in touch with Islamabad on those issues.
Asked what the United States government would do if some of the Taliban were to cross over into Pakistan and create problems for the Pakistan authorities, Reeker replied, “I think you are speaking in a hypothetical and a speculative case.
‘‘I have seen reports suggesting that perhaps those certain Taliban or others had crossed that border, as you indicated.
‘‘We have had projects to work with Pakistan to help them in terms of border defence for a long time, but I am not aware of any specific things in terms of the Taliban leadership or others that may or may not have gone there.”—APP
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