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US envoy holds key Pakistan talks US envoy holds key Pakistan talks
(about 1 hour later)
Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy for Pakistan, is in Islamabad for talks likely to centre on a renewed strategy to confront the Taleban and al-Qaeda. Visiting US special envoy for Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, has held key talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
He is holding talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The talks were said to be focusing on the new US regional strategy to confront the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
Mr Obama recently made clear that he regards Pakistan's cooperation as being crucial to the success of his plans. Associated Press quoted a presidential statement as saying Mr Zardari had asked for "unconditional support" in his battle with militants.
There has been concern in Washington at the escalating Taleban insurgency on Pakistani territory. The US regards Pakistan's cooperation as vital in its new regional drive.
US aims in Afghanistan dominate the new president's foreign policy agenda. President Barack Obama recently unveiled the strategy, which combines Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of a new regional push to defeat the militants affecting both nations.
After a major review, Mr Obama last month unveiled a new strategy which suggested both Afghanistan and Pakistan needed to be fully engaged in the confrontation if the militants were to be defeated. The strategy is at the forefront of Mr Obama's foreign policy agenda.
New approach Drone attacks
In his talks in Pakistan, Mr Holbrooke will no doubt seek to clarify Washington's thinking, says the BBC's South Asia analyst, Alan Johnston. Washington has been particularly concerned at the escalating Taleban insurgency on Pakistani territory.
Along with a considerable boost to US troop numbers in Afghanistan, America's new approach includes substantial economic assistance for the Pakistanis - more than $1bn annually over the next five years. There was a little bit of hope when Mr Obama became the president, and the expectation was that there would be a little bit of shift in policy. But I don't think that has happened Aftab Ahmad Sherpao,Pakistan ex-foreign minister
Washington clearly hopes that the money might help provide the government in Islamabad with more of the resources it needs to combat the growing Taleban insurgency on its own soil, our correspondent says. Increasing US drone attacks on militants in Pakistan will be high on the agenda - Islamabad has always opposed them as a violation of sovereignty.
In recent weeks the militants have shown themselves capable of carrying out major assaults in the heart of Pakistan - with dozens dying last weeks in suicide bomb attacks in the capital Lahore and an important Shia mosque south of the capital. The Obama administration has pledged more aid to Pakistan to combat al-Qaeda and the Taleban, but the money has still-unspecified conditions attached.
The Americans will worry that the stronger the militants are able to get in Pakistani territory, the better placed they will be to launch operations against Western forces across the border in Afghanistan, our correspondent adds. The US says it will provide substantial economic assistance for Pakistan - more than $1bn annually over the next five years.
The BBC's South Asia analyst Alan Johnston says Washington clearly hopes that the money might help provide the government in Islamabad with more of the resources it needs to combat the Taleban insurgency.
In recent weeks the militants have shown themselves capable of carrying out major assaults in the heart of Pakistan - with dozens of people dying last week in a number of suicide bomb attacks.
The Americans will worry that the stronger the militants become in Pakistan, the better placed they will be to launch operations against Western forces in Afghanistan, our correspondent says.
Pakistan's former foreign minister, Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, told the BBC that ordinary Pakistanis had not been convinced by Mr Obama's efforts to win over the Muslim world.
"There was a little bit of hope when Mr Obama became the president, and the expectation was that there would be a little bit of shift in policy. But I don't think that has happened," he said.
"The drone attacks continue, and they feel that there is little for Pakistan. Yes, they have said that they will be giving aid, but at what cost?"
Mr Holbrooke, who is Mr Obama's top envoy to both Pakistan and Afghanistan, arrived in Islamabad after talks in Kabul.Mr Holbrooke, who is Mr Obama's top envoy to both Pakistan and Afghanistan, arrived in Islamabad after talks in Kabul.
He was accompanied by Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and is expected to go on to India for discussion of regional security issues.He was accompanied by Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and is expected to go on to India for discussion of regional security issues.