Obama holds 'productive' talks with Zardari and Karzai
President Barack Obama has described talks with Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai as “extraordinarily productive”.
The trilateral leaders’ summit comes amid continued violence in the region, with the White House seeking a commitment from both governments to step up their efforts against the Taliban.
Speaking shortly after yesterday’s meeting, Mr Obama pledged “lasting commitment” to the democratic government of both countries, adding: “The security of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States are linked.”
The threat of insurgency further destabilising Pakistan was underlined as fighting continued in the Swat Valley.
Security forces said they killed dozens of Taliban fighters in the region through heavy mortaring of the militants’ strongholds.
Meanwhile civilians continued to flee the area to escape the violence. The government in Islamabad said it believes those left homeless by the situation could reach 500,000. It follows the breakdown of a three-month ceasefire.
In Washington, Mr Obama – flanked by Mr Zardari and Mr Karzai – said that the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan must co-operate in fighting insurgents who control parts of the Pakistan Afghanistan border and “deny them the space” to threaten local citizens.
He added that both Mr Zardari and Mr Karzai recognised the seriousness of the threat.
In his remarks following the summit, Mr Obama did not mention the Taliban once by name, instead speaking of the threat from al Qaida and its “extremist allies”.
He said the three nations represented at the talks had a common goal in wanting to “disrupt, dismantle and defeat” terrorists and militant insurgents in the region.
Mr Obama said that Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari had reaffirmed their commitment to confronting the threat.
He added: “I’m pleased that we have advanced unprecedented cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan on a bilateral basis, and among Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States – which will benefit all of our people.”
The US president called on the two visiting heads of states to share intelligence and co-ordinate efforts to “isolate, target and take out” insurgents.
In return he vowed US support and money to build schools, roads and hospitals in a bid to win hearts and minds.
“I want the Pakistani people to understand that America is not simply against terrorism – we are on the side of their hopes and their aspirations.”
Mr Obama added: “The road ahead will be difficult. There will be more violence, and there will be setbacks.
“But let me be clear: The United States has made a lasting commitment to defeat al Qaida, but also to support the democratically elected sovereign governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“That commitment will not waver and that support will be sustained.”
The heads of state summit ended a day of high level meetings in Washington. Earlier, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that calls for greater confrontation with the Taliban were being heard by the visiting presidents.
After her meeting with Mr Zardari and Mr Karzai she told reporters that the talks were “producing some very promising early signs”.
She added that Pakistan’s military offensive against the Taliban in the Swat Valley was a positive sign.
But experts have suggested that it may be hard for both Afghanistan and Pakistan to deliver on any promises made in Washington.
Speaking ahead of the trilateral summit, Anthony Cordesman, of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said: “What they (the US administration) are hoping for and what they are likely to get are two different things.
“The goal in theory would be to get much closer co-operation between Pakistan and Afghanistan in fighting the Taliban.
“But Karzai is a relatively weak leader with a weak government and security force and Pakistan faces a major crisis.”
He added: “No-one has any illusions about immediate progress. This is not a meeting that will produce dramatic change, but it can lead to steps forward.”
