US appreciates Pak's coop in fighting terrorism

Washington, July 17: The Bush Administration has appreciated the overall cooperation that Pakistan has extended to the United States in its fight against terrorism.

"We are working very well with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and overall we are very pleased with the level of cooperation we've received from Pakistan, "State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday.

He made this observation when his attention was drawn to the two television interviews that US National Security Advisor Stephen Headley gave on Sunday and in one of which he supported Gen Musharraf and in the second he said the US was not satisfied with Pakistani President's policies.

The questioner wanted to know the State Department's position.

McCormack, in reply said, "well, those two things aren't mutually exclusive. But, I think Steve [Stephen Headley] was talking specifically about President Musharraf's efforts to work with tribal leaders in North Waziristan and the federally administered tribal areas, which have essentially been ungoverned for the entire modern history of Pakistan." The Spokesman explained, "President Musharraf and his government struck a deal with these leaders. By their own admission in the government, it hasn't worked out exactly as they would have hoped." "We agree with that assessment and so they're working to try to retool that agreement. I know that it's the Taliban has pronounced it dead.

In that particular effort, I would refer you to the Pakistani authorities for their commentary exactly on where this stands and to the tribal leaders as well," he said.

McCormack, however," said, "There's a lot to be done in this region and it's not a region that is really well connected to the rest of Pakistan, never mind the rest of the world.

"And so in the interest of making sure that this is not fertile ground for violent extremism to take long-term root, it is important that we work with the Pakistani Government as well as the Afghan Government to see what we can do to help the people of that region build up infrastructure and start to integrate themselves into the daily life of Pakistan as well as the rest of the world," the State Department Spokesman said.

UNI