Destroy N Waziristan terror sanctuaries, Burns tells COAS

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

ISLAMABAD: US Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns during his visit to Pakistan held meetings with Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, special assistant to the prime minister Tariq Fatemi and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.

Sources close to the meetings said that Burns conveyed the message of the United States to top Pakistani civil and military officials during the meetings, asking for the destruction of terrorist sanctuaries located in North Waziristan. On behalf of the US, he requested that this operation should be completed before the installation of the new political administration in Kabul.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed Pakistan-US bilateral relations and regional issues, including Afghanistan, said a Foreign Office spokesperson.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson also attended the meeting between US deputy secretary of state and special assistant to the prime minister, Tariq Fatemi during which the importance Pakistan attaches to stronger Pakistan-U.S. cooperation in diverse fields was underscored.

Fatemi expressed satisfaction at the positive direction and momentum of Pak-US bilateral relations after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to Washington.

Both sides noted with satisfaction that the Ministerial Review of the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue held subsequently which had further sustained this process.

With regards to Afghanistan, both countries emphasised the importance of deeper consultations between Pakistan and the US.

Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, during his meeting with Mr Burns, reiterated Pakistan’s support for the democratic process in Afghanistan and stressed that smooth security and economic transitions were also fundamental for stability in Afghanistan and the region.

Both sides also discussed the post-2014 situation and matters relating to Afghan peace and reconciliation process.

During meeting with Pakistan's top military commander General Raheel Sharif, Burns discussed security along the Pak-Afghan border and shared more information about terrorist sanctuaries, calling for possible strikes against them.

The visiting US deputy secretary of state also held meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

6 terrorists killed as attack on Bannu police post thwarted

IHC to hear Imran, Bushra's pleas against conviction in £190m reference on April 30

Pakistan's weekly oil bill reached $800m amid Middle East war: PM Shehbaz

redrock

May 09, 2014 06:28pm

And what about the sanctuaries of the Taliban across the border!! keep in mind the Taliban still reign supreme there. We attack, they retreat across the border and then we are surrounded by enemies!!

Recommend 0

Fareed (usa)

May 09, 2014 06:34pm

William Burn's demand is right on the target. Only yesterday, 10-12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in North Waziristan. Nawaz Sharif's government can't hide anymore behind the smoke screen of negotiation with talibans. Americans have not used Drones for quite while, giving Pakistan government time to control terrorists. So far Pakistan government has failed. Chances are US might resume droning taliban terrorists.

Recommend 0

Feroz

May 09, 2014 06:36pm

This must be the hundredth time such a message is being conveyed, proving the relationship is suffering from strategic misfortune. When one side is dumb and the other side is deaf, sign language may be a better option.

Recommend 0

Khangul

May 09, 2014 06:37pm

But first you destroy Mulla Fazullalah & Co hiding in Kunar, Afghanistan. Agreed?

Recommend 0

Shahpur

May 09, 2014 06:40pm

Good advice.

Recommend 0

Israr Khan Ismailzai

May 09, 2014 06:41pm

Mr. DSS, what about the Indian and Afghan terror sanctuaries across the border? You know they exist, right??

Recommend 0

fido

May 09, 2014 06:44pm

@redrock ...if we don't attack they stay within our border and we have enemies within

Recommend 0

asif

May 09, 2014 07:02pm

If the US wants this done it should make all future aid dependent on this condition being met or just do it themselves. Pakistan does not understand logic, we have to be forced to do something, under threat of the kashkol being taken away or being bombed to the stone age. Pakistan army itself says, danday kee quom hai, batto se nahi manti.

Recommend 0

haris

May 09, 2014 07:07pm

William J. Burns, voice of many non-resident Pakistani liberals ... wow!

Recommend 0

Sara Khan

May 09, 2014 07:12pm

How about US support for mercenaries all over the world for the past atleast 100 years

Recommend 0

Sara Khan

May 09, 2014 07:13pm

COAS should have kicked him out right away

Recommend 0

MJK

May 09, 2014 07:26pm

To drone or not to drone - it will eventually happen unless we control these mountain bandits.

Recommend 0

Seedoo

May 09, 2014 07:34pm

@Feroz Two wrongs do not make a right. Your logic justifying terrorist sanctuaries just because one of our wanted terrorists hangs out there is wrong. These terrorists sanctuaries are doing more harm to Pakistan that to Afghanistan. Let's do what we can and what's in our control before we start expecting others to do something, especially when we have no control over them.

Recommend 0

Wachucha

May 09, 2014 07:39pm

Why don't you first stop the supply of illegal arms to them from across the border?

Recommend 0

Areesha Kayani

May 09, 2014 07:40pm

Go ahead these Americans will give us some dollars to play their own game.

Recommend 0

Ayesha

May 09, 2014 08:24pm

Once again a drama and a great insult to the citizens of Pakistan, why the PM and the COAS needs dictation from the United States, or any other country to take action against terrorism in our own country. If the US, won't tell them to start operation, they will not realize themselves. Stop making a fool of us, we know what's cooking inside, all the authorities are corrupt to the core, and nobody gives a damn about the country, or its people. And why the US is so much interested in the peace and security of Afghanistan, why they are spending so much money and resources in Afghanistan, when at home they need to provide all types of support to the American citizens that are living under the poverty line, which are more than 45 million. We know our voice will not reach the corrupt one's, but even then we write and express our needs and concern. Shame on the entire government of Pakistan, go ahead, and suck the blood of the innocents.

Recommend 0

Lallu Pehalwaan

May 09, 2014 09:20pm

There are no sanctuaries. Period. In fact they never had, Sanctuaries exist only in the imagination of world. It is land of Pure,there is no place for such things.

Recommend 0

Sagar

May 09, 2014 10:05pm

@Israr Khan Ismailzai Pakistan itself has so much terror that India even don't want to play any terror game with pakistan.

Recommend 0

May 09, 2014 10:27pm

@Seedoo yup, Pak needs to set good example of leadership by cleaning up North Waziristan themselves to bring COAS "writ of the state". India, Afghan, US, Iran, China and Russia , all want that clean up of terror sanctuaries. Once this is done then you have to cleanup Punjab as well.

Recommend 0

Parvez

May 09, 2014 10:28pm

.....but the Lal Masjid and the ten odd militant madrassas around Rawalpindi, then the outfits in southern Punjab, then the millitant strongholds around Karachi, then those around Quetta, must be destroyed, then the pulpits of all the mosques must be regulated like in other Muslim countries, all must be dealt with along with North Waziristan. The question is do we have the will and the capacity to do this.

Recommend 0

Khan

May 09, 2014 10:52pm

Pakistan should start action with promise from US that they will not oppose Afghans repatriation from Pakistan , sealing of border and help in effective border management.

Recommend 0

Mustafa

May 09, 2014 11:23pm

Would Mr. Burns please define "Good Taliban".

Recommend 0

Travis

May 09, 2014 11:52pm

Pending Checkmate! Watch my words

Recommend 0

May 10, 2014 12:03am

@Parvez. Yes you are so correct that it is not limited to Waziristan but includes all areas of the country. Pak has the resources for the clean up but lacks a leader with will and determination to do the clean up job

Recommend 0

MJK

May 10, 2014 12:41am

Americans have not launched any drone attack for quite some time. I guess they wanted to give Pak government a chance to negotiate with talibans. So far there has not been any improvement, talibans continue attacks, recently a dozen of Pak army soldiers have been killed. Government has not disclosed in clear terms, what do talibans want ?They are not waging a war for any territorial gains.If they want to impose their version of Sharia,is Nawaz sharif ready to shred 1973 constitution ? Americans are not going to wait too long. In their national interest, they would not want talibans taking over Afghanistan. after US troops start leaving. US will use every weapon including drones to deter talibans. Who can blame them if talibans do not seriously negotiate peace.

Recommend 0

excalibur

May 10, 2014 01:01am

What does Burn's think ?Is Pakistan on Sepoy duty or Nawaz or what ?

Recommend 0

Mohammad Akhtar

May 10, 2014 01:18am

Mr. Burn is right, if Pakistani government wants the peace for it people they have to eliminate all the terror groups from A to Z.

Recommend 0

Syed Ahmed

May 10, 2014 04:22am

What business has William J. Burns to meet the COAS and ask for the destruction of terrorist sanctuaries located in North Waziristan on behalf of the US government and expect the operation shall be completed before the installation of the new political administration in Kabul.

Recommend 0

Dev-USA

May 10, 2014 05:48am

@Ayesha True, Pakistan should listen to its people and stop fighting with India...By that way poors from both the sides(This is a fact) can eat good food, and they don't have to watch F16 with Hunger..

Recommend 0

Syed

May 10, 2014 07:03am

@Fareed (usa) - To some extent i agree with dialogue but nawaz is doing it to keep army away from power.

Recommend 0

ssf

May 10, 2014 07:49am

We have to take his advice, Pakistan is the one who will suffer if we dont. Thousands of our citizens had been killed by these terrorists.

Recommend 0

Talha

May 10, 2014 09:53am

I think dialog is the only way forward. One can only think of the offensive against the extremist forces if the Durand line is protected with a big wall or mines or strong border patrolling so that if Pakistan Military goes on the offensive the extremist get nowhere to run. If the Durand Line is not protected then obviously they would run to Afghanistan and come back stronger. Seems like extremists in our country have got some strategic depth. So William Burns if you are sincere at eradicating terrorism then you better make Afghanistan accept the official Durand line and then help us strengthen the Pak-Afghan border and then maybe ask us to destroy terrorist sanctuaries. Otherwise I would at least think of it as a strategy to push Pakistan in in-fighting so that it gets internally weak. Because fighting the way you want us to fight is only going to make Pakistan weaker and it would then seem to me that that is exactly what you want.

Recommend 0

Agha Ata

May 12, 2014 12:40am

Destroying N Waziristan terror sanctuaries is destroying a very big agenda William J. Burns has no clue about (or maybe he has, but pretends as if he doesn't).

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.