US Concerned on Taliban Progression in Pakistan
With Taliban progression in Pakistan eating into President Barack Obama’s considerable time, the United States has recently expressed great concern on the latest Islamist development in south Asia.
While noting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s “candid” comments on the issue, While House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that the news of Taliban’s advancement in Pakistan over the past several days is very disturbing and administration is deeply bothered about it.
“We are extremely concerned about the situation and it is something that takes a lot of the president’s time,” he said, adding, “What is happening in Pakistan and Afghanistan is the central foreign policy focus of this administration”
Earlier on Thursday, with global concern mounting over Islamabad’s ability to put a check on the Islamists, Pakistan deployed paramilitary troops to northwestern districts infiltrated by Taliban militants.
Just a day before, Clinton had blatantly warned that Pakistan, the key US ally in its global war against terrorism, was “basically abdicating to the Taliban and to the extremists” with an agreement permitting Sharia law in the Swat valley.
Moreover, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates backed up her words on Thursday, arguing that Pakistan’s leaders must act to stop the militants who have taken control of districts about 100 kilometers (60 miles) outside the capital Islamabad.
Gates said that in his conversation with Pakistani leaders, the government seemed to take hold of the threat posed by Taliban militants, but he stressed the leadership needed to take action.
“It is important they not only recognize it (the threat), but take the appropriate actions to deal with it,” said Gates.
