World | Pakistan
Obama: Extremists will be isolated
US President Barack Obama says he is confident that Pakistan will be able to effectively isolate extremists and resolve internal differences.
- By Fasihur Rehman Khan, Correspondent
- Published: 23:07 June 21, 2009
Islamabad: US President Barack Obama says he is confident that Pakistan will be able to effectively isolate extremists and resolve internal differences.
"I have confidence in the Pakistani people and the Pakistani state in resolving differences through a democratic process and to isolate extremists. Dating back to [the time of founding father Mohammad Ali] Jinnah, Pakistan has always had a history of overcoming difficulties. There's no reason why it can't overcome those difficulties today," Obama told Pakistani news channel Dawn News in an exclusive interview telecast on Sunday.
Asked whether it was too early to push Pakistan into a military offensive in Waziristan, and whether defeat would prove disastrous, Obama said: "Well, let me make two points.
"Number one, nobody can or should push the Pakistani government. The Pakistani government is accountable to the people of Pakistan.
"I think the Pakistani government and the people of Pakistan recognise that when you have extremists who are assassinating moderate clerics like Dr [Sarfraz Ahmad] Naeemi, when you have explosions that are killing innocent women and children, that that can't be the path for development and prosperity for Pakistan.
"And so there's been a decision that's made that we support, that the Pakistani military and the Pakistani government will not stand by idly as extremists attempt to disrupt the country.
"But ultimately these are decisions to be made by the Pakistani government and the Pakistani people. What the United States believes is that we are a partner in the process of peace-loving nations seeking to root out extremism, increase development, and that is the kind of role that we want to play with Pakistan."
When asked why he had not mentioned Kashmir, Obama said: "I don't think that we've been silent on the fact that India is a great friend of the United States and Pakistan is a great friend of the United States, and it always grieves us to see friends fighting".
"And we can't dictate to Pakistan or India how they should resolve their differences, but we know that both countries would prosper if those differences are resolved.
"And I believe that there are opportunities, maybe not starting with Kashmir but starting with other issues, that Pakistan and India can be in a dialogue together and over time to try to reduce tensions and find areas of common interest.
"And we want to be helpful in that process, but I don't think it's appropriate for us to be the mediators in that process. I think that this is something that the Pakistanis and Indians can take leadership on."
Asked if he was urging India to resume bilateral talks with Pakistan, Obama said: "Well, what we have said is that we think that all of South Asia would benefit by reduced tensions between India and Pakistan. I think that dialogue is the best way to reduce tensions".
Asked whether the US might seize Pakistan's nuclear weapons to prevent the Taliban from capturing them, Obama said: "Well, I won't engage in hypotheticals like that. I have confidence that the Pakistani government has safeguarded its nuclear arsenal. It's Pakistan's nuclear arsenal".
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