I am not sure what zardari was smokin’ when he made this statement.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Karzai reposes confidence in Asif’s outlook on terrorism
By our correspondent
NEW YORK: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the world is a “safer place” because of President George Bush’s leadership, adding, “It could have been much worse.”
In an interview published by the Washington Post on Saturday, Zardari warned, "The axis of evil is growing, but did not specify who constituted that “axis.” He denied that Pakistan had fired at two US helicopters that had strayed into Pakistani territory from Afghanistan, saying that only warning flares had been fired, contradicting what Admiral Michael Mullen alleged.
Zardari said Pakistan has the opportunity to “do the job” and has the “right credentials” and so has he, having been through a “tough life” that has prepared him “to become even tougher.”
In another interview published by the Washington Post, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said there are Taliban sanctuaries “in the region,” while agreeing with the interviewer that the international community and the West should have paid more attention to the tribal areas. “They should have done all that was needed to be done – political, diplomatic, the right concentration. All those areas where the training places,” he added.
Asked if former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had tried “quite a few options” and if they had all failed," the Afghan president replied, “Maybe he did try, maybe the West did try it with him, but we did not see the results. And as we see now, unfortunately, the problem had gone deeper into Pakistan. The bombing of the Marriott Hotel recently in Islamabad was – unbelievable, shocking. I’ve had so many lunches and dinners in that hotel.” When asked if he had met President Zardari in New York, Karzai answered, “I just met him earlier. We should all help President Zardari because he has the right intentions and the right policy for Pakistan and for the region, and I think he deserves our assistance.” As to what he and Zardari planned to do together to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda, Karzai answered, “We will work on a joint strategy against terrorism, and we hope that the United States and the rest of our allies will join us strongly in implementing that strategy to a successful completion.”
In reply to a question about the ISI, the Afghan president said, “I think we have to enable the current Pakistani government to do that. They have the right attitude. They are on our side. They are on the side of the international community in fighting terrorism. That is good for Pakistan as well. We have to give them the support and the means to deliver that.” Karzai went on to say, “I have faith in Zardari, and I am sure he will deliver. I am hearing good things about Gen Kayani as well. Afghanistan will do everything to give them a sense of confidence.”
To the question if al-Qaeda or Taliban had blown up the Marriott Hotel, Karzai said, “It has to be within that circle.” As to how he felt about unilateral US raids, he said, the war against terrorism could not be and would not be won in the Afghan villages. Asked where the war was, he replied, “It is in the sanctuaries where one must change the political mindset and the thinking that extremism can be used as an instrument of policy by this or that entity. Victory lies in training the Afghan police plus a meaningful input of economic assistance to Afghanistan through Afghan institutions – as much as we may make mistakes. That is the better option than doing it directly or through NGOs.”
