English
US hails Musharraf’s ‘war on terror’
|
US officials have hailed Pakistani outgoing President Pervez Musharraf as a ‘friend and committed’ ally in the so-called war on terror.
In her first public statement after the resignation of former army chief, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Musharraf “a friend to the United States” and one of the “world’s most committed partners in the war against terrorism”.
“President Musharraf made the critical choice to join the fight against al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and other extremist groups that threaten the peace and security of Pakistan, its neighbors, and partners throughout the world. For this, he has our deep gratitude,” said a statement by the State Department.
President George W. Bush also hoped that Pakistan would remain a solid ally against extremism after Musharraf’s resignation. “We’re all in this together. And the people of Pakistan and the government of Pakistan know that,” president’s spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters as Bush spent time on his ranch near a tiny Texas town.
“So we’re confident that while we certainly all have more to do when it comes to fighting terrorism, the government of Pakistan will continue in the effort,” he said after Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday to avoid the impeachment proceedings against him.
 |
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte had called Musharraf “indispensable” to President Bush’s campaign against terror.
Musharraf dominated Pakistan for years after seizing power in a bloodless military coup, gaining favor from the US after supporting its fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Many Pakistanis blame rising militant violence on Musharraf’s use of the army against fighters based in the northwestern part of the country and rising violence on his alliance with the United States.
The former army chief was accused of violation of the constitution and gross misconduct by his rivals who came to power after February parliamentary elections, largely sidelining him.
Earlier, Premier Seyed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif had criticized the US over meddling in internal affairs and throwing support behind the dictators in the country.
Reaction in Pakistan is overwhelmingly one of relief that a lengthy impeachment battle has been avoided.
Pakistan’s newly elected civilian coalition government has faced criticism from the United States that it was not doing enough to fight militants operating along the Afghan-Pakistan border. The civilian government is reluctant to fight what it sees as a proxy war for the US.
The two countries have been remained at odds since some past months over a host of issues including the militancy and the so-called war on terror. Subscribe=>
Source: PressTV More Top News
Hollywood heavyweights Robert De Niro and Al Pacino reunited on the red carpet in New York Wednesday night for the premiere of their new crime thriller “Righteous Kill” — their first film together since making 1995’s “Heat.”
The movie also stars
The Pakistani Army has been given orders to retaliate against any unilateral strike by the Afghanistan-based US troops inside the country.
Army Spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas confirmed the orders in a brief interview with Geo News on late Thursday night.
The
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he will not accept military action or new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities.
“We should not take any unilateral steps. It is not acceptable to opt for a military scenario. It would be dangerous,”
As the world marks the seventh anniversary of 9/11, some European experts say security improvements in the US have been undercut by fairly basic mistakes. Among the remedies is more trust in America’s laws and allies.
Seven years after the attacks
David Miliband has allegedly come in for a rather undiplomatic tongue-lashing from his Russian counterpart.
The Foreign Secretary was apparently given a furious dressing down by Sergei Lavrov over the telephone.
Mr Miliband’s criticism of Russia’s recent incursion into Georgia is believed
PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa - A South African judge ruled Friday that prosecutors were wrong to charge ANC President Jacob Zuma with corruption, effectively clearing way for the 66-year-old former freedom fighter to become the country’s next president.
Judge Chris Nicholson’s ruling
Thailand’s political turmoil deepened Friday when the ruling coalition failed to turn up to parliament to reelect leader Samak Sundaravej as prime minister.
Lawmakers from the six-party coalition did not attend an emergency session of parliament called to choose a prime minister, three days after a court stripped Samak of power for accepting payments for hosting