Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Times
June 25, 2008
Pg. 20
Terror war skirmishes worry D.C. conferees
By Kimberly Kweder, The Washington Times
For Pakistani-Americans, developments in the war on terrorism are never far away, especially when they involve the 1,500-mile Pakistani-Afghan border.
The topic dominated the 16th annual Friendship Day hosted last week by the Pakistani American Congress in Washington.
When Donald A. Camp, the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, asked the audience for questions, the clattering of forks and glasses over a banquet of fish, salad and blueberry crumb cake gave way to something more akin to a daily briefing for reporters at the State Department.
"How long will [the U.S.] keep fighting until you destroy everything so there is nothing left?" asked one participant
Another asked the whereabouts of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden and weapons of mass destruction.
A third participant asked about U.S. policy on domestic issues in Pakistan and the U.S. policy toward Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
A main concern, however, was reports of cross-border strikes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan against suspected terrorist targets - the latest on June 11, in which several members of Pakistan's Frontier Corps died.
Mr. Camp said the attack involved "absolutely no targeting of Pakistani military," but he admitted details of the incident remain murky and expressed hope that a joint investigation involving U.S. and Pakistani officials would determine what happened.
"There is no military action by U.S. troops in Pakistan," Mr. Camp said.
More than 100,000 Pakistani troops patrol Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA region, along the Pakistani-Afghan border.
"Pakistan is doing an enormous amount [in border protection]," he said.
Husain Haqqani, Pakistan´s newly appointed ambassador to the United States, described challenges to U.S.-Pakistani cooperation in the war on terrorism as "complex, but not necessarily difficult."
"Every challenge brings an opportunity," he said, adding that democracy binds the two nations together.
He explained a fivefold government policy of Pakistan that includes negotiation with the FATA tribal leaders, a Pakistani request for the U.S. to share real-time intelligence and support of reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) in the tribal areas.
"The government of Pakistan is in the process of putting in place a strategic plan. We expect our friends in Afghanistan and the United States and those in NATO to work with us rather than anyone raising voice against one another," he told the conference.
"Pakistan is committed to eliminate terrorism for Pakistan´s sake," he said.
Of the 38,000 American troops in Afghanistan, an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 troops operate from the Bagram air base in Afghanistan, which focuses on Afghanistan-Pakistan border security, Greg Sullivan, spokesman for South and Central Asian affairs at the State Department, told The Washington Times.
Trilateral talks among the U.S., Pakistan and Afghanistan are attempting to address the lack of formal border crossing points.
A total of 14 primary border crossing points are scattered throughout Afghan provinces along the border.
"It's been a constant point that there needs to be border crossing points, more manned posts and more Pakistani troops on the border ... . There are way too many places to cross without being noticed or impeded," Mr. Sullivan said.
Many of the participants supported a FATA economic development plan, funded in part by the United States, which has pledged $750 million over the next five years.
The plan involves setting up trade zones between Pakistan and Afghanistan that allow products free entry into the United States.
"We believe poverty breeds militancy," said Riaz Ahmed, past president and member of the Pakistani American Congress' founding committee.
"Neither governments, Pakistan, Afghanistan or the U.S. have a clear strategy to control the situation peacefully," Dr. Ahmed said.
The area, long known as a haven for smugglers, became a haven for al Qaeda terrorists following the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, U.S. officials say.
Pakistani officials say the allegations are exaggerated.
June 25, 2008
Pg. 20
Terror war skirmishes worry D.C. conferees
By Kimberly Kweder, The Washington Times
For Pakistani-Americans, developments in the war on terrorism are never far away, especially when they involve the 1,500-mile Pakistani-Afghan border.
The topic dominated the 16th annual Friendship Day hosted last week by the Pakistani American Congress in Washington.
When Donald A. Camp, the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, asked the audience for questions, the clattering of forks and glasses over a banquet of fish, salad and blueberry crumb cake gave way to something more akin to a daily briefing for reporters at the State Department.
"How long will [the U.S.] keep fighting until you destroy everything so there is nothing left?" asked one participant
Another asked the whereabouts of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden and weapons of mass destruction.
A third participant asked about U.S. policy on domestic issues in Pakistan and the U.S. policy toward Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
A main concern, however, was reports of cross-border strikes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan against suspected terrorist targets - the latest on June 11, in which several members of Pakistan's Frontier Corps died.
Mr. Camp said the attack involved "absolutely no targeting of Pakistani military," but he admitted details of the incident remain murky and expressed hope that a joint investigation involving U.S. and Pakistani officials would determine what happened.
"There is no military action by U.S. troops in Pakistan," Mr. Camp said.
More than 100,000 Pakistani troops patrol Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA region, along the Pakistani-Afghan border.
"Pakistan is doing an enormous amount [in border protection]," he said.
Husain Haqqani, Pakistan´s newly appointed ambassador to the United States, described challenges to U.S.-Pakistani cooperation in the war on terrorism as "complex, but not necessarily difficult."
"Every challenge brings an opportunity," he said, adding that democracy binds the two nations together.
He explained a fivefold government policy of Pakistan that includes negotiation with the FATA tribal leaders, a Pakistani request for the U.S. to share real-time intelligence and support of reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) in the tribal areas.
"The government of Pakistan is in the process of putting in place a strategic plan. We expect our friends in Afghanistan and the United States and those in NATO to work with us rather than anyone raising voice against one another," he told the conference.
"Pakistan is committed to eliminate terrorism for Pakistan´s sake," he said.
Of the 38,000 American troops in Afghanistan, an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 troops operate from the Bagram air base in Afghanistan, which focuses on Afghanistan-Pakistan border security, Greg Sullivan, spokesman for South and Central Asian affairs at the State Department, told The Washington Times.
Trilateral talks among the U.S., Pakistan and Afghanistan are attempting to address the lack of formal border crossing points.
A total of 14 primary border crossing points are scattered throughout Afghan provinces along the border.
"It's been a constant point that there needs to be border crossing points, more manned posts and more Pakistani troops on the border ... . There are way too many places to cross without being noticed or impeded," Mr. Sullivan said.
Many of the participants supported a FATA economic development plan, funded in part by the United States, which has pledged $750 million over the next five years.
The plan involves setting up trade zones between Pakistan and Afghanistan that allow products free entry into the United States.
"We believe poverty breeds militancy," said Riaz Ahmed, past president and member of the Pakistani American Congress' founding committee.
"Neither governments, Pakistan, Afghanistan or the U.S. have a clear strategy to control the situation peacefully," Dr. Ahmed said.
The area, long known as a haven for smugglers, became a haven for al Qaeda terrorists following the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, U.S. officials say.
Pakistani officials say the allegations are exaggerated.