">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 - Saturday, March 28
KABUL - Afghan and Pakistani officials praised the strategy President Barack Obama unveiled for their countries, saying his emphasis on civilian aid would be an effective way to deal with the growing violence from Taliban and al-Qaida militants.
ADVERTISEMENT
U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban government in Afghanistan in 2001, but many members of the militant group fled to Pakistan, where they have been staging cross-border attacks alongside al-Qaida against Afghan and international troops. The Obama administration hopes its new strategy announced Friday will improve security and bolster the Afghan government.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Obama's plan to provide an additional 4,000 troops to train Afghanistan's army and police would benefit both his country and the region.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari praised Obama's plan to give his country $1.5 billion in civilian aid annually to try to improve people's lives and counter the influence of Islamic militants, said the state news agency.
Afghan presidential spokesman Humayun Hamidzada also praised Obama's focus on increasing civilian aid to both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"We appreciate the focus on development assistance for the Afghan and Pakistani people while not losing sight of the fight against terrorism," Hamidzada told The Associated Press.
Obama said the U.S. would also send hundreds of additional civilians to Afghanistan, with the overarching goal "to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future."
Karzai said the new strategy "will bring Afghanistan and the international community closer to success."
Other Afghan officials praised the new U.S. strategy, especially Obama's focus on militant sanctuaries in Pakistan. Obama called the mountainous border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan "the most dangerous place in the world."
The U.S. and Afghanistan have repeatedly called on Pakistan to crack down on militants on its territory. The Pakistani government has pledged to do so, but many Afghan and Western officials suspect officers within the country's spy agency of supporting the Taliban, which Pakistan helped bring to power in Afghanistan in the 1990s.
"We particularly welcome the recognition that the problem in Afghanistan has strong regional dynamics and there has to be a regional solution," Hamidzada said of the new U.S. strategy. "We also welcome the recognition that the al-Qaida threat is emanating from Pakistan."
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his country would play "a constructive role."
"We have common objectives with our friends and allies, particularly the United States, and we have cooperated and we will cooperate with the Obama administration in a very constructive manner," Qureshi told the AP in Moscow on the sidelines of an international conference on Afghanistan.
Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Sultan Baheen lauded the U.S. plan to help increase the size of the Afghan army from about 80,000 soldiers today to 134,000 by 2011. But he said Afghanistan also needed help equipping its troops.
Afghan police are often even less well-equipped than the army and have suffered the brunt of militant attacks. Obama's plan calls for increasing the number of police from 78,000 to 82,000.
Obama has also pledged to send an additional 17,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan this year to battle the Taliban and al-Qaida. There are roughly 65,000 international forces in Afghanistan, more than half from the U.S.
U.S. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said Washington needs to improve its intelligence capabilities in Afghanistan.
"I think the tactical intelligence that supports the operations both on the civilian and military side needs to be ramped up," Blair told reporters.
Meanwhile, an Afghan soldier shot and killed two U.S. coalition troops and wounded one other Friday in northern Afghanistan before killing himself, said U.S. military spokesman, Col. Greg Julian.
Clashes in the south killed 18 militants, officials said.
Troops killed 11 militants and captured another Thursday night in a raid targeting a key Taliban insurgent in a village in southern Helmand province, the U.S. military said.
In the same province Thursday, police killed five militants and wounded six others in an operation that also captured three fighters, the Interior Ministry said.
In neighboring Oruzgan province, Afghan and international forces killed two militants and destroyed a bomb in an airstrike, the military said.
____
Associated Press writers Heidi Vogt and Amir Shah contributed to this report from Kabul, and Steve Gutterman contributed from Moscow.
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
British Airways ends direct flights to BangladeshAFP - Saturday, March 28
Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategyAP - Saturday, March 28
Japan OKs deployment of missile defense systemAP - Saturday, March 28
Morkel, Boucher trump Hussey and AustraliaAFP - Saturday, March 28
Radioactive material found in China: state mediaAFP - Saturday, March 28
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Hot tea linked with throat cancer
Pope 'publicly distorted' condom science: Lancet
Red meat raises death risk, white meat lowers it
Scientists see asteroid hurtle to Earth
Goods reappear in Zimbabwe shops
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 Saturday, 28 March 2009 Italy's Josef Fritzl arrested for incest and abuse
| International
|
Russia to boost Arctic troops to defend resources
| International
|
Pink Panther jewel thief suspect held in Cyprus
| International
|
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
| Technology
|
New technologies coming to Web start-ups' rescue
| Technology
|
No more oil rigs for ousted American Idol Sarver
| Entertainment
|
Geoffrey Rush debuts on Broadway to rave reviews
| Entertainment
|
No. 1 lady detective series?
| Entertainment
|
Welcome to Hawaii Pacific Teleport
Singapore News
Bolshoi Theatre may not reopen till 2013: report
Singapore News
Singapore News
Iraq to move Iranian opposition group: official
Japan deploys defense for North Korea rocket launch
| International
|
Iran, Venezuela revise ties ahead of Chavez visit
China turns to Buddhism to calm Tibet, Taiwan tensions
| International
|
Obama widens war against al-Qaida in Afghanistan
Brown calls for global unity on crisis, IMF reform
Guatemala finds Mexico drug smuggler training camp
| International
|
Suicide bomb in Pakistan mosque kills about 50
Russia, Azerbaijan in talks on gas deal: Gazprom
Pakistan's ISI still linked to militants, U.S. says
| International
|
Fallujah is test case for post-US Iraq
US consumer spending up for second month
Malaysia readies for new PM promising reform
| International
|
US judge orders Iran to pay $25M for Hamas killing
Fresh fighting in south Philippines kills 27 people
| International
|
Afghanistan backs US plan as fighting rages
Turkey's local polls set to give Erdogan reform boost
| International
|
Major dates in Fallujah's war
Obama makes Pakistan center of Al-Qaeda war
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
| Technology
|
NEC to quit PC market abroad with Asia-Pacific exit
| Technology
|
Obama puts Pakistan at center of Al-Qaeda war
Americans spend eight hours a day on screens
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 599
Google to expand TV ad service to online video
Official: Intel predicts rising Afghan violence
New technologies coming to Web start-ups' rescue
Grim US newspaper ad revenue figures released
UN chief hails Obama's new Afghan strategy
Google to cut 200 sales, marketing jobs
Outcry after new Ground Zero tower loses 'Freedom'
Turkish PM raises objections to Rasmussen's NATO bid
Russia to end Chechnya anti-terror mission
Mexico wants more U.S. funding for drugs battle
Republican in court over N. Ireland killings
'Italy's Fritzl' sequestered daughter for 25 years
British PM eyes royal reform: reports
Designer sues Courtney Love over Web rants
| Entertainment
|
British Airways ends direct flights to Bangladesh
Rapper T.I. sentenced to one year on gun charges
| Entertainment
|
Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategy
Devoted music fans pay top dollar for deluxe sets
| Entertainment
|
Japan OKs deployment of missile defense system
Geoffrey Rush debuts on Broadway to rave reviews
The Dead aim to foil scalpers with charity auction
| Entertainment
|
Morkel, Boucher trump Hussey and Australia
Radioactive material found in China: state media
French visits to patch up ties in China
Former Thai PM Thaksin points finger of blame
Japan says ready to shoot down NKorea missile
India's Spice puts bid for fraud-hit Satyam on hold: report
Designer sues Courtney Love over Web rants
Thai ex-PM adds to calls for gov't to resign
Vietnam Q1 growth lowest in decade: official
The Dead aim to foil scalpers with charity auction
Afghan president welcomes new US strategy
China Construction Bank profits up 34 percent
Vanessa Redgrave reschedules Cathedral appearance
China ready to contribute more to IMF fund
Rapper T.I. sentenced to one year on gun charges
Pakistan targets 350 bln rupees in T-bill auctions
Smithsonian unveils 6 design models for new museum
Australia sets conditions on China mine purchase
CNBC's Dylan Ratigan leaving `Fast Money'
No more oil rigs for ousted "American Idol" Sarver
Madonna applies to adopt girl in Malawi
Courtney Love's apparent online rants now in court
Longtime NBC newsman Irving R. Levine dies at 86
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
Markets soar on stimulus plan despite WTO warning
Singapore News
Singapore News
Singapore News
Pakistan spies under heat in new US strategy
Kabul hails US plan as "better than expected"
Militants destroy 12 NATO trucks in Pakistan
Venezuela, Iran FMs meet ahead of Chavez visit
Madonna due in Malawi to adopt second child
Soros sees risk of Britain needing IMF bailout
US space shuttle heads back home
Australia kicks off Earth Hour climate campaign
Australia turns the lights out for Earth Hour
Medvedev, Obama to agree arms declaration: Kremlin
Pacific switches off lights for Earth Hour
American Language Center to reopen in Syria
Obama team takes its climate change agenda abroad
New US strategy better than expected: Karzai
US takes new climate change agenda to global talks
NEC to quit PC market abroad with Asia-Pacific exit
California politician wants to censor online maps
Thousands in London for pre-G20 march
EU ministers seek to reassure Balkan nations
Pakistan's Zardari backs Sharif govt return in Punjab
Pakistan president moves to end political crisis
Afghan president backs new US strategy for war
China marks "emancipation" of Tibet with new holiday
Australia kicks off Earth Hour climate campaign
'Thousands' of Chinese workers heading to Vietnam
Taiwan's ruling party wins key by-election
S.Korea vice fin min sees "good signs" in econ -reports
Nehru relative arrested in India
Pakistani cenbank buys 9 bln rupees of T-bills
Afghan leader: US strategy better than expected
Philippine troops near militants' base withdraw
Heigl says she'll stay if 'Grey's' will have her
Report: North Korea launch would go before UN
Guests for the Sunday TV news shows
CNN likely third-place network in prime-time
Burst Indonesia damn kills 77, 100 still missing
Death toll from Indonesia dam burst rises to 77
Dam bursts near Indonesian capital, killing 77
Dam bursts near Indonesian capital, killing 69
Death toll in Indonesia's dam burst climbs to 69
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