US has no ‘magic solution’ to Pakistan’s energy crisis: Holbrooke
August 20th, 2009 - 3:31 am ICT by IANS
Islamabad, Aug 20 (IANS) The US will provide all help to Pakistan to deal with its crushing energy crisis, but it has no “magic solution” to the ongoing crisis, top US envoy Richard Holbrooke has said.
“We are committed to resolve the energy crisis in Pakistan. We will strive to address this crisis with the cooperation of IMF, US aid and other international institutions. US has however no magic solution to the crisis,” US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said in Karachi Wednesday.
The diplomat also anticipated that the energy crisis might run for more 25 years, the Online new agency reported.
Pakistan faces a crippling energy crisis, as it is only able to produce about 80 percent of the electricity it needs. The US has pledged economic assistance to Pakistan to deal with this problem as part of its strategy to fight terrorism.
Holbroke, US President Barack Obama’s troubleshooter for the region, also supported the ongoing military offensive against the Taliban in the northwestern Pakistan and stated the Islamist extremists are the “common enemies” for the US, Pakistan, Afghanistan and for other Muslim neighbours.
However, he stated that the US was ready to talk with the moderate Taliban who have no link with Al Qaeda.
“We are ready to talk to such Taliban who are willing to hold talks with us after isolating them from Al Qaeda. However, no talks would be held with Al Qaeda,” he said.
Holbrooke, who is in Pakistan since Saturday, will go to Afghanistan Thursday for its elections, marred by a surge in Taliban attacks.
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Tags: afghanistan, al qaeda, barack obama, diplomat, economic assistance, electricity, enemies, energy crisis, imf, international institutions, islamabad, islamist extremists, karachi, magic solution, muslim, neighbours, northwestern pakistan, richard holbrooke, taliban, troubleshooter