WASHINGTON, Feb 25: US President Barack Obama has warned that he will not allow terrorists sitting half a world away to plot attacks against the American people.
In his first State of the Union address, Mr Obama used a combination of friendly gestures and threats to deal with militancy in the Afghan-Pakistan region.
“And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat Al Qaeda and combat extremism,” he said.
Then, he warned: “We will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.”
He went back to pledges of strengthening new and old alliances with America’s friends while talking about the threats confronting the US and its allies.
“To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty – we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones and use all elements of our national power,” he said.
The US president’s statement came as his administration began a process of consultation with two key allies in the war against terrorism: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Two high-level delegations from these countries are currently in Washington to participate in a review process aimed at evolving a new US strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
As part of the review process, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi late on Tuesday.
The two met for almost one and a half hours, almost double the planned 45 minutes, discussing issues such as the situation in Fata and the US objections to the Swat peace deal.
This was the first of a series of meetings of senior Pakistani, Afghan and US diplomats and military officials aimed at formulating a joint strategy for defeating terrorism.
In brief comments to reporters after the meeting, Mrs Clinton pledged a very open and consultative review process with the two governments.
Mr Qureshi said he saw a “convergence of interests” with Washington on the conflict, and reiterated his government’s commitment to combat extremism.
“There is a convergence of interests. There is a willingness to work together. And I see a lot of hope in the new US administration, the new leadership,” he said.
“And Pakistan is willing to work with the American administration to fight extremism and terrorism. We are determined to defeat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
Mrs Clinton was more cautious, saying that she was ‘very grateful for the minister’s advice and counsel’ and would consult closely with Pakistan as part of the strategic review.
Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta is also in Washington for the review, and met Mr Qureshi on Tuesday before the Clinton-Qureshi meeting.
Secretary Clinton will hold a three-way dinner meeting with the Afghan and Pakistani foreign ministers on Wednesday night and separately meet Mr Spanta on Thursday and will hold a trilateral meeting with the two delegations in the evening.
Richard Holbrooke, the new US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan who recently toured the region, is also taking part in the consultations.