‘US ready for increased cooperation with Pakistan on terrorism’
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WASHINGTON: The US State Department said on Friday that Washington would welcome increased cooperation with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.
“We have been working closely with all levels of the Pakistan government and stand ready to provide assistance as necessary,” the department’s spokesperson Jen Psaki told a briefing in Washington.
“And we, of course, would welcome increased cooperation as well with the government,” she added.
Earlier, the White House had also offered to strengthen “a very important” counter-terrorism relationship with Pakistan.
And this week, US President Barack Obama telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to express America’s “unwavering support for the Pakistani people” in the fight against extremism.
The same day US Secretary of State John Kerry also called the prime minister, reaffirming “solidarity and support … at this difficult time of mourning for the Pakistani people”.
At a White House news briefing, Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the United States had “a very important counterterrorism relationship with Pakistan” and hoped that this relationship would “endure, primarily because it significantly benefits the citizens of both Pakistan and the United States.”
“I can tell you that that kind of assistance that you’re referring to has been offered,” said Mr Earnest when a journalist asked if the United States was offering more than blood and prayers for victims of the Peshawar massacre.
“This is a situation that’s only very recently been resolved and I anticipate that we’ll continue to be in touch with Pakistani leaders in the days ahead,” he said.
Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2014
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Comments (24) Closed
Dec 20, 2014 10:04am
What it means is that US now wants to move the drone strikes from the borders to the areas in the heart of Pakistan.
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Dec 20, 2014 10:12am
Thank you Mr. President Obama for your kind offer. Right now, we need scholarships for our generation in MIT, Stanford, California and in other Engineering Universities for Industrial and economical development. Also, please don't give us aid but trade and business opportunities.
Jazak-Allah
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Dec 20, 2014 10:18am
Dear America, please don't give us aid. Our rulers swallow it. Give us PhD Scholarships in your Universities.
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Dec 20, 2014 11:57am
Pakistan dont accept any aid from US instead start business.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:15pm
@Dr. Abdul Manan Admissions to these US universities is open to all and purely on merit basis. The US govt couldn't help there. Ask Pervez Hoodbhoy.
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Dec 20, 2014 12:58pm
thank you USA
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Dec 20, 2014 01:44pm
Poor people beggin from their masters.
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Dec 20, 2014 01:49pm
American promises have a very dodgy history. While we can use all the help we get, let's not rely totally on outside help to bring our own house in order. Caution is the word to stick to here imho.
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Dec 20, 2014 02:04pm
With or without conditions?
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Dec 20, 2014 02:38pm
This is America's war we are fighting. They took last drop benefit out of it and left all these american made taliban here in Pakistan. These taliban were taught brain-washed to fight against Russia because they attacked their brother Muslim country termed it as Jihad. When done america wanted Pakistan to dump all the taliban trash to our northern areas and then attacked Afghanistan himself. Those taliban then in retaliation attacked Americans because they have attacked on their brother Islamic country.What do you expect from people whom you have trained that way will let you go?America wanted them to be settled in northern areas of Pakistan after soviet downfall. America we do not need any help. Just take your mess with you, we will not question you for destruction you have caused to us.
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Dec 20, 2014 02:43pm
@Kamal Pasha With the corrupt US gov't. there are always conditions, you should know that after 13 years of our infiltration into Pakistan.
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Dec 20, 2014 03:10pm
Let's hope US govt take action against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan and also force to shut down its training centers in Afghanistan. For years US had blamed Pakistan of playing double game, now it's for US to show it's true support to Pakistan, the country which had nothing to do with 9/11 but suffered the most in US "War on Terror".
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Dec 20, 2014 04:18pm
Its a shame we still havent realised that since the americans entered illegally into afghanistan all the troubles started in pakistan
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Dec 20, 2014 04:42pm
@Dr. Abdul Manan You need to work hard with exemplary academic results to get PHd scholarships in US universities.
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Dec 20, 2014 04:45pm
@ali Entered illegally? US enters, where it has it interests, specially when it comes to fight against terror. It entered and killed OBL in the heart of Pakistan, without Pakistan's knowledge.
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Dec 20, 2014 05:22pm
We sure need one drone for Maulana Abdul aziz of lal masjid.
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Dec 20, 2014 06:15pm
US , your co-operation and sympathy is classics example of '' Use of Salt at someone's wound ''
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Dec 20, 2014 06:44pm
It is the criminal invasions and wars by US that has put us in this situation in the first place, any more cooperation and that will be the final straw. Pakistan should stay as far away as possible from America but unfortunately our leaders civil and military are servants of imperial America and will not pay heed to wisdom
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Dec 20, 2014 08:07pm
@Dr. Abdul Manan appreciate your emotion. Brother you should understand degrees comes with knowledge, dont trade with blood and bombs for degrees. Earn it, dont beg. You crack their exams and ask your mullas to pay for your studies who get tonnes of dinars in name of religion.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:23pm
USA should be kept out of Pakistani affairs at all cost. USA interference is bad news for any country
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Dec 20, 2014 11:44pm
@Farrukh Kiani
Get this is notion out of your mind that this is America's war that Pakistan is fighting. As far as I am concerned these ttp terrorists were made in Pakistan and were supported by Pakistani mullahs and other so called religious organizations in Pakistan to wage war on Pakistan for the implementation of their version of shariah in Pakistan. And to this day they are supported by the same people and organizations and the people of Pakistan are sitting quietly watching this menace grow from within their own homes. Also, keep this in mind that sometimes your closest friends are your biggest enemies and not who you would like to think it is. Unfortunately, in Pakistan's case their real enemy is Saudi Arabia because it has been proven by majority of international community that SA funds and sponsors extremist form of Islam worldwide and Pakistan is it's hot bed. Lastly, I believe that as long as their are like minded people like you, I am afraid that their is no hope left for Pakistan. So sad that my beloved country has come to its demise end.
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Dec 21, 2014 01:20am
We failed to protect our children in schools. We can bomb villages but are unable to kill a single TTP leader. Our justice system is not working. That means we are a failed state. Let the US drones come & do the job the way they like it. Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Multan, Pindi, Lahore each shall have a big fleet of drones & big database of all terrorist including those who are waging jihad against India. They will be cleaning the miss we together have created in the last 35 years. The alternative is wait for another atrocity.
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Dec 21, 2014 02:14am
I agree, what is going to help Pakistan is making Pakistan its key trade partner, opening doors to Pakistani students to enter American technical colleges, universities, medical schools, nursing schools. However, American should required strict governance requirements from the government Pakistan. They should ensure the rulers do not pocket the loan amount in kick backs or commissions. They should ensure independence of all government institutions & bodies in their decisions & judgments. Otherwise, it would only regress the conditions in Pakistan, if the rulers are able to act like fascist, above the country's law, or not being held accountable for their corruption. American special cooperation in exchange for Pakistan's cooperation in eliminating terrorism, would benefit the powerful only, if the system does not yield to safeguards, controls, the ones I have listed above.
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Dec 21, 2014 05:14am
Like 'increase terrorism'
Pakistan should say 'no thank you, but NO!'.
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