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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan urged over Taleban fight | Pakistan urged over Taleban fight |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Washington's special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan has said the US must put more pressure on Islamabad to counter the Taleban. | Washington's special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan has said the US must put more pressure on Islamabad to counter the Taleban. |
| Richard Holbrooke said the US could not succeed in the Afghan conflict against the Taleban without Pakistan's support. | Richard Holbrooke said the US could not succeed in the Afghan conflict against the Taleban without Pakistan's support. |
| He was speaking on the eve of a meeting between US President Barack Obama and the leaders of the two countries. | He was speaking on the eve of a meeting between US President Barack Obama and the leaders of the two countries. |
| The meeting comes as a peace deal with the Pakistani Taleban appears close to collapse and amid new Afghan violence. | The meeting comes as a peace deal with the Pakistani Taleban appears close to collapse and amid new Afghan violence. |
| "We need to put the most heavy possible pressure on our friends in Pakistan to join us in the fight against the Taleban and its allies," Mr Holbrooke told a congressional hearing in Washington. | "We need to put the most heavy possible pressure on our friends in Pakistan to join us in the fight against the Taleban and its allies," Mr Holbrooke told a congressional hearing in Washington. |
| Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al-Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders Richard Holbrooke Building Pakistan-Afghan trust Afghan diary class="" href="/2/hi/talking_point/8035691.stm">Send us your comments | |
| He said America's most vital national security interests were at stake in the region and that the US "cannot succeed in Afghanistan without Pakistan's support and involvement". | He said America's most vital national security interests were at stake in the region and that the US "cannot succeed in Afghanistan without Pakistan's support and involvement". |
| Mr Holbrooke cautioned against describing Pakistan as a failed state and reconfirmed US support for President Asif Ali Zardari, saying Washington's goal "must be unambiguously to support and help stabilise a democratic Pakistan headed by its elected president". | Mr Holbrooke cautioned against describing Pakistan as a failed state and reconfirmed US support for President Asif Ali Zardari, saying Washington's goal "must be unambiguously to support and help stabilise a democratic Pakistan headed by its elected president". |
| But he said Pakistan had to "demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al-Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders". | But he said Pakistan had to "demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al-Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders". |
| The US believes that Taleban fighters are able to seek sanctuary in Pakistan's border regions in order to launch attacks in Afghanistan. | The US believes that Taleban fighters are able to seek sanctuary in Pakistan's border regions in order to launch attacks in Afghanistan. |
| Mr Zardari insisted the Taleban would not cause his government to collapse. | Mr Zardari insisted the Taleban would not cause his government to collapse. |
| "They're not threats to my government. They are threats to my security," Mr Zardari told CNN. | "They're not threats to my government. They are threats to my security," Mr Zardari told CNN. |
| "My government is not going to fall when one mountain is taken by one group or the other." | "My government is not going to fall when one mountain is taken by one group or the other." |
| Speaking at the Brookings Institute think tank in Washington DC, Mr Karzai said his country could never be stable or peaceful unless alleged Taleban sanctuaries and training grounds in Pakistan were removed. | Speaking at the Brookings Institute think tank in Washington DC, Mr Karzai said his country could never be stable or peaceful unless alleged Taleban sanctuaries and training grounds in Pakistan were removed. |
| He said Afghanistan would use the talks to do "all that it can in immense friendship and brotherhood with Pakistan and alliance and friendship with America" to address the issue. | He said Afghanistan would use the talks to do "all that it can in immense friendship and brotherhood with Pakistan and alliance and friendship with America" to address the issue. |
| Growing unrest | Growing unrest |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Mr Obama is fighting on multiple fronts. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Mr Obama is fighting on multiple fronts. |
| The talks come at a time of increasing Taleban activity in the region | The talks come at a time of increasing Taleban activity in the region |
| He needs to convince Pakistan's leaders of the gravity of the situation but also to convince Congress to approve the huge aid package for country, a vital element of the US strategy. | He needs to convince Pakistan's leaders of the gravity of the situation but also to convince Congress to approve the huge aid package for country, a vital element of the US strategy. |
| Wednesday's talks between Mr Obama, Mr Zardari and Mr Karzai come at a time of new unrest in both countries as a result of Taleban fighting. | Wednesday's talks between Mr Obama, Mr Zardari and Mr Karzai come at a time of new unrest in both countries as a result of Taleban fighting. |
| Thousands of residents of Pakistan's Swat Valley have fled their homes as a peace deal between the army and the Taleban appeared close to collapse. | Thousands of residents of Pakistan's Swat Valley have fled their homes as a peace deal between the army and the Taleban appeared close to collapse. |
| Officials say up to 500,000 people are expected to flee and authorities are preparing six refugee camps for them. | Officials say up to 500,000 people are expected to flee and authorities are preparing six refugee camps for them. |
| There have been clashes between the army and militants in Swat and heavy battles in neighbouring districts. | There have been clashes between the army and militants in Swat and heavy battles in neighbouring districts. |
| A major army operation against the Taleban in Swat now seems likely, the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan reports from Islamabad. | A major army operation against the Taleban in Swat now seems likely, the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan reports from Islamabad. |
| Afghan MP Khaled Pashtun told the BBC there were high expectations for the US talks. | Afghan MP Khaled Pashtun told the BBC there were high expectations for the US talks. |
| He said the US should "compel [Pakistan] to work closely and work in a comprehensive way to bring peace and security". | He said the US should "compel [Pakistan] to work closely and work in a comprehensive way to bring peace and security". |
| One key issue for Mr Karzai will be continuing civilian casualties from coalition attacks. | One key issue for Mr Karzai will be continuing civilian casualties from coalition attacks. |
| The US has said it is investigating reports that more than 20 Afghan civilians were killed by US air strikes in Farah province on Tuesday. | The US has said it is investigating reports that more than 20 Afghan civilians were killed by US air strikes in Farah province on Tuesday. |
| Fighting there also reportedly left 25 Taleban militants dead. | Fighting there also reportedly left 25 Taleban militants dead. |