US helping Pak to deal with terrorism: Boucher

Kabul, Jan 22: US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher has said that the US is working to help Pakistan deal with extremism and al Qaeda militants "in its own way."

Boucher was responding to a question about reports that the US could send troops into the Pakistan tribal areas to root out extremists and al Qaeda militants, based there. "It is their country, their problems, and we are going to try to help them deal with it in their own way," Boucher told reporters in Asadabad in Afghanistan. "Our goal and our job is to be cooperative so this common problem that exists, that affects us, that affects you, that affects Pakistan, so we can all end this problem together," Boucher said.

"All of us want to see a more peaceful life for the people here, all of us want to see an end to the bombs, we want to see an end to the fighting," he said.

Earlier, commenting on media reports that the US might take unilateral actions the tribal areas of Pakistan, Musharraf said: "Only Pakistan"s own forces will take such action."

He underlined the need for resolution of political issues of the Muslims to overcome the menace of terrorism, the Dawn reported.

ANI