Cheney preaches to Pakistan

I imagine Musharraf did not invite Cheney to go hunting with him!


Cheney warns Pak on terror
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NDTV Correspondent

Monday, February 26, 2007 (Islamabad):


Paying a surprise visit to Pakistan, US Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday voiced apprehensions over regrouping of al-Qaeda in its border areas with Afghanistan at a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf.

Cheney held two-hour-long talks with Musharraf in the backdrop of reports in the US that President George W Bush has decided to send a tough message to the Pakistani president that aid would cut to Islamabad if al-Qaeda militants were not hunted down.

"Cheney expressed US apprehensions of regrouping of al-Qaeda in the tribal areas and called for concerted efforts in countering the threat," according to a Pakistan government statement issued after the meeting.

He expressed serious US concerns on the intelligence being picked up of an impending Taliban and al-Qaeda "spring offensive" against allied forces in Afghanistan," the statement said.

Pivotal role

Cheney, however, appreciated Pakistan's pivotal role in the fight against terrorism and pledged to further augment mutually beneficial multifaceted ties.

Musharraf, on complaints relating to Pakistan's lack of co-operation in cracking down on Taliban, told Cheney that the international community was collectively responsible for defeating the scourge of terrorism and curbing militant activities inside Afghanistan.

Musharraf said Pakistan has done the maximum in the fight against terrorism, but stressed that joint efforts were needed for achieving the desired objectives.

He also briefed Cheney about the Indo-Pak talks to resolve their differences over Kashmir and other issues. (With PTI Inputs)



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