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Clinton: Changing Mindset In Pakistan About Extremist Threat Will Not Be Easy |
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Friday, 24 April 2009Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Capitol Hill, 23 Apr 2009The situation in Pakistan and the Obama administration's strategy there as well as in Afghanistan dominated a second day of testimony in Congress on Thursday by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. U.S. lawmakers voiced concerns about the latest developments involving Taliban advances in Pakistan.
As with her appearance the previous day before the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Secretary Clinton faced questions about President Obama's strategy to strengthen Afghanistan against a resurgent Taliban and bolster Pakistan against extremist advances.
Lawmakers voiced concerns about Islamabad's unwillingness to fully recognize that the main threat to its security has shifted from nuclear-armed India to extremists inside Pakistan.
Democratic Representative David Obey pointed to the Pakistani government's agreement with the Taliban in the Swat Valley - the latest manifestation of which can be seen in Taliban advances in the Buner region some 100 kilometers from Islamabad. Obey warned that leaders in Pakistan still are not addressing the situation.
"We have factions playing for their own interest, not focused on the real threats to that state," said David Obey. "You have the insistence of the Pakistani government that they continue to focus on India rather than focus on the real threat."
Saying he has "absolutely no confidence in the ability of the existing Pakistani government to do one blessed thing," Obey added that without a functioning Pakistani government focused on the right issues, the United States will not be able to achieve its goals in the region.
Secretary Clinton said changing "paradigms and mindsets" in Pakistan will not be easy, but she said she believes that Pakistani factions are coming around to focus on the main threat.
"I was heartened to hear that leaders of opposing political parties, even Islamic-based political parties, have begun to express their concerns about the deal in Swat
The Obama administration is preparing a list of benchmarks by which to measure progress in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Secretary Clinton said these benchmarks, some of which will be classified, are critical to the president's strategy and lawmaker's ability to assess progress.
"We do think we owe you a set of measurements that we are going to try to |
Friday, 24 April 2009
VOA News
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