Enemy in Pakistan is far from defeated, says US
August 28th, 2009 - 2:54 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Aug.28 (ANI): The Pakistan Army may have been claiming that it has forced the Taliban and other extremist groups to retreat in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), but the United States believes that the enemy in Pakistan is far from defeated.
Speaking at the 91st Annual American Legion Convention, Louisville, Kentucky, US Central Command chief General David Petraeus noted that the military operation in the Swat and Malakand Divisions has forced the extremists to move back, but highlighted they are not rooted out from the region.
“These encouraging developments notwithstanding, however, the enemy in Pakistan is far from defeated, and many extremist elements have yet to be engaged, particularly those that typically operate outside Pakistan’s borders,” General Petraeus said.
“Robust Pakistani military operations in Swat Valley and in other NWFP districts have cleared militants from those areas. Operations in FATA in recent months have resulted in the death of militant leader Baitullah Mehsud and a number of other important extremist group leaders,” he added.
General Petraeus said Islamabad has realized that it faces the prime threat from the Taliban and other extremist organization operation from its soil.
“Even here one can sense the beginning of a realization among Pakistan’s leaders and people that extremists operating from their soil, in neighbouring countries, challenge the writ of Pakistani governance and inevitably will turn on their own country’s security forces and citizens,” The Nation quoted General Petraeus, as saying.
He said America would continue its support to the Pakistani military and the government in their fight against extremism. (ANI)
- Dismantling terror network tops Govt's agenda: Gilani - Jun 07, 2010
- Pak fighting for its own survival in Swat, Malakand: Petraeus - Jun 17, 2009
- 'Terror attacks across Pak's tribal region proves Taliban still operating systematically' - Aug 26, 2010
- Petraeus discusses 'ways to improve regional security' with Kayani - Apr 26, 2011
- Pakistan considers India an existential threat: US - Feb 01, 2012
- No talks with Taliban: Rehman Malik - Dec 12, 2011
- Pakistani Taliban planned to target PM, others: Intelligence report - Aug 22, 2009
- Trial of 3,000 militants begin Aug 1 in Pakistan - Jun 09, 2010
- US-Pak secret efforts on to weed out Al-Qaeda from FATA: Petraeus - Dec 08, 2010
- Pakistani warplanes bomb Baitullah Mehsud's stronghold - Jun 13, 2009
- US doubtful about winning war on Pakistan border - Dec 06, 2010
- Pak Taliban fighting back by killing innocent civilians: Petraeus - Apr 25, 2010
- Mumbai attacks bared LeT's global ambitions: US report - Aug 06, 2010
- Pakistan still sees India as major threat, says top US general - May 08, 2010
- Pakistani Army reviews anti-Taliban operations - Sep 03, 2009
Tags: american legion convention, chief general, command chief, david petraeus, extremist elements, extremist group, extremist groups, extremist organization, frontier province, general david petraeus, general petraeus, group leaders, malakand, militant leader, north west frontier, nwfp, pakistan army, prime threat, swat valley, us central command
