US helping Pakistan tackle extremism ‘in its own way’
ASADABAD (Afghanistan), Jan 21: The United States is working to help Pakistan deal with extremism “in its own way,” a top US diplomat for the region said here on Monday.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher was responding to a question about reports that the United States could send troops into the Pakistan tribal belt bordering Afghanistan to root out extremists, including from Al Qaeda, based there.
Pakistan has said any unauthorised military strike by international forces against Al Qaeda militants on its soil would be considered an “enemy act” and tantamount to an invasion.
“It is their country, their problems, and we are going to try to help them deal with it in their own way ...,” Boucher told reporters after meeting officials in the town of Asadabad near the Pakistan border.
“Our goal and our job ... is to be cooperative so this common problem that exists, that affects us, that affects you, that affects Pakistan, so we can all end this problem together,” Boucher said.
“All of us want to see a more peaceful life for the people here, all of us want to see an end to the bombs, we want to see an end to the fighting,” he said.—Agencies
