Stabilising Pakistan more important for US: CIA Expert

Washington, Mar.15 (ANI): Former CIA Middle-East expert Bruce Riedel has said that stabilizing Pakistan was now more important to the United States.

Riedel, who is heading a team of policy makers to chart out new US policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said that rooting out militancy from safe havens in Pakistan's lawless northwest border region is very important as it poses a direct threat to the US.

Riedel said that the government in Pakistan has failed to control its own military and intelligence.

He termed Pakistan's tribal area as a 'failed state and a safe haven for terrorists.'

"If that spreads, the whole country will become a terrorist university. The chance of a spectacular in the US, or Britain, is exponentially increased. And Pakistan has nuclear weapons," The Nation quoted Riedel, as saying.

He also expressed fears that British al-Qaeda or Lakshar-e-Taiba militants, trained in Pakistan, might strike in America in the near future.

The US's Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, agreed with Riedel's views.

Holbrooke maintained that the efforts of allied forces could not succeed unless Pakistan gets its western tribal areas under control.

Britain's Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, also expressed concern over the continuous political brickbatting in Pakistan.

He said that the political turmoil has diverted the attention from the real threat of terrorism.

"I would say it's very grave. I think Pakistan faces a mortal threat, not from India, but from domestic terrorism," Miliband added. (ANI)