">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategy
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategy
By SEBASTIAN ABBOT,Associated Press Writer AP - 2 hours 17 minutes ago
KABUL - Afghanistan and Pakistan praised the new U.S. strategy for dealing with growing violence in the two countries, saying the plan to reconcile with moderate Taliban militants was better than expected and calling a focus on using development to fight extremism "a positive change."
ADVERTISEMENT
President Barack Obama announced the new strategy in hopes of reversing the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, where violence has been increasing from Taliban militants who fled the 2001 U.S.-led invasion and have been launching cross-border attacks from sanctuaries in Pakistan.
In the latest violence, a roadside bomb killed three Afghan army commandos on patrol Saturday in eastern Paktia province's Gardez district, the U.S. military said in a statement. Four other soldiers were wounded.
The violence provides cover for al-Qaida operatives who Obama said are also holed up in Pakistan and planning attacks against the U.S. and other countries. The overarching goal of the new strategy is to "disrupt, dismantle and defeat" al-Qaida in the region by increasing civilian and military assistance on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border.
But serious questions remain, including whether the new effort will convince Pakistan to crack down on militants operating in its territory and whether the U.S. and Afghanistan can agree on which Taliban fighters should be approached for reconciliation.
In addition to focusing on reconciliation Saturday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai praised pledges of increased and better-coordinated assistance to his country and Obama's focus on countering militant sanctuaries in Pakistan.
"This is better than we were expecting as a matter of fact," Karzai told a news conference.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said billions of dollars in additional civilian aid will help his government fight extremism. He promised he would not allow Pakistani territory to be used for terrorism _ though he offered no new measures.
"The U.S. presidency's new approach represents a positive change," Zardari said in a speech to Parliament.
Karzai has long championed the idea of reconciliation with the Taliban as a key way to tamp down the growing insurgency in Afghanistan. The Bush administration generally opposed the idea.
The new plan promised 4,000 additional troops to train the Afghan army, hundreds more civilian specialists to help Afghanistan rebuild and $1.5 billion in annual civilian aid to Pakistan for the next five years.
____
Associated Press writers Fisnik Abrashi and Rahim Faiez in Kabul, Stephen Graham in Islamabad, and Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Malaysia's new leader tested as campaign kicks offAFP - 22 minutes ago
Police: 3 teens arrested in HK after making bombsAP - 35 minutes ago
Malaysia PM character put at heart of by-electionReuters - 41 minutes ago
Thousands of toxic toads killed in Australian festAP - 51 minutes ago
Philippines: No hostage freed so far after pull-back pledgeAFP - 1 hour 7 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Hot tea linked with throat cancer
Pope 'publicly distorted' condom science: Lancet
Scientists see asteroid hurtle to Earth
Soros sees risk of Britain needing IMF bailout
UK economy hit by worst slide since 1980
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Sunday, 29 March 2009 Afghan president welcomes U.S. strategy review
| International
|
G20 marches begin week of protests
| International
|
Spain may open torture probe of six Bush officials
| International
|
Nehru's great-grandson arrested over Muslim hate speech
| International
|
Clashes between Iraq forces and Sunni guards kill three
| International
|
After Putin, Russia's Medvedev flies warplane
| International
|
Israeli army disperses protest in West Bank town
| International
|
Asia dims the lights for Earth Hour
| International
|
Corsicans protest after murder verdict confirmed
| International
|
Madonna seeks to adopt baby girl Mercy in Malawi
| Entertainment
|
Cuba opens first big U.S. art exhibit since 1980s
| Entertainment
|
Bank of Japan begins 2-day policy board meeting
Israel official: Chances slim for prisoner swap
Kurdish rebel leader in Iraq vows not to disarm
Israeli army disperses protest in West Bank town
Tens of thousands march in G20 protests
Tension in Baghdad after arrest of Sunni leader
G8 to discuss 'human dimension' of crisis
Two killed as Baghdad police clash with anti-Qaeda group
Obama launches major economies climate forum
Clashes between Iraq forces and Sunni guards kill three
Most European countries back seal products embargo
Pakistan troops kill 26 militants in border zone
Discovery ends mission with successful landing
Relatives bury victims of Pakistan mosque bombing
Germany to buy stake in HRE: bank
Frigid North Dakota braces for record flood threat
Talks with Canadian auto union still deadlocked: Chrysler
Green light for Discovery to descend from orbit: NASA
Norway may back IMF with $4.5 bln: Strauss-Kahn
Antarctica to Pyramids _ lights dim for Earth Hour
Obama launches major economies climate forum
North Dakota: levee patrols amid record flood
Obama starts climate change forum for big economies
No more US dictating to Latin America: Biden
World switches off to save planet in "Earth Hour"
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,262
US takes new climate change agenda to global talks
Cold weather eases flood threat in North Dakota
Top Spanish judge mulls Guantanamo probe: reports
EU ministers seek to reassure Balkan nations
Irish minister confident of EU treaty 'yes' vote
Police station in NW China attacked: state media
Hong Kong teens build 'terror' bomb: police
Abu Sayyaf militants reject Filipino troop pullout
Esquire Japan to end publication amid recession
Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategy
SKoreans spend record sum on education
Drunken brawlers attack Chinese police, injuring 2
S.Korea ruling party mulls public fund body-Yonhap
Campaign kicks off for key Malaysia by-elections
China insists on financial system overhaul
Spy satellites spot nose of NKorea rocket: report
Costa Rica comptroller contests China contract
Malaysian socialists barred over 'clenched fist'
World looks to India to spur global economy: PM
Aus govt: opposition's China concerns 'absurd'
Scores still missing after Indonesian dam bursts
'High School Musical 3' wins at Kids Choice Awards
A new personality cult rises in Turkmenistan
Sharks pose Sydney food-chain puzzle
Easy economics through the eyes of nurse Helga
World switches off to save planet in Earth Hour
| International
|
Graffiti gets biggest global outing to date
Romania: living at the municipal dump
Kids' Choice Awards winners
Obama to seek NATO support for Afghan plan
| International
|
G20 marches begin week of protests in Europe
| International
|
Cuba holds first US art exhibit in 50 years
Indonesia dam death toll rises to 93: official
Japanese enka star performs at DC festival
North Korea may also launch mid-range missile: paper
| International
|
Despite sour economy, Miami music conference a hit
Mexico asks U.S. to resist temptation of protectionism
| International
|
Former Guyana President Janet Jagan dies at 88
| International
|
Colombia rocked by father-daughter incest case
| International
|
Gates: Economic moves against Iran more effective
Arab summit to back Bashir, ease divide over Iran
| International
|
Erdogan's AK Party set to win in Turkish local vote
Iraqi forces encircle Sunni fighters after clash
| International
|
Taliban abduct 11 Pakistani policemen
| International
|
Gates says objectives in Afghanistan are narrowing
Madonna in Malawi for second adoption
Israel limits privileges of Hamas prisoners
Spain may decide Guantanamo probe this week
| International
|
US in spotlight as UN climate talks resume
Page Not Found |
AP Exclusive: UN suggests power-sharing for Kirkuk
Page Not Found |
One killed and seven wounded in Turkey vote violence
Hungary parties fail to pick new PM
| International
|
Troops and militiamen clash in Baghdad
Iraqi forces encircle Sunni fighters after clash
Obama team debuts at UN climate talks
US in spotlight as UN climate talks resume
Vexing computer worm to evolve on April Fool's Day
Prince performs three L.A. shows in one night
| Entertainment
|
Madonna in Malawi for new child adoption
| Entertainment
|
Scores still missing after Indonesian dam bursts
UN: Many Bangladesh children malnourished
Taliban abduct 11 Pakistani policemen
China-based network infiltrates computers
Filipino rebels warn US troops not to join combat
Seoul warns N. Korea over rocket launch
Popular snack in Myanmar tainted with chemical dye
Thai Airways to operate from one Bangkok airport
China on high alert in rural areas for child virus
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Madonna in Malawi for new child adoption
Prince performs three L.A. shows in one night
Chris Brown, Rihanna were no-shows at Kids' Choice
Indonesia's president campaigns in Aceh
Indonesian president woos voters in tense Aceh
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights