Pakistan, Afghanistan welcome Obama's new policy

Washington, March 27 (ANI): Pakistan and Afghanistan have hailed the US President Barack Obama's new plans to root out extremists. Both the countries have pledged to extend cooperation to the U.S in this endeavour.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, on Friday said it was an "extraordinarily positive" sign that Obama was re-examining US policy in the region.

Haqqani said Pakistan was "especially pleased" about Obama's personal commitment to "reinvigorating our common efforts to contain terrorism and extremism."

"It bodes well not only for a stronger regional approach to a clearly regional problem, but to a more mature bilateral relationship between the United States and Pakistan," Haqqani said.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan Ambassador to Washington, Said Jawad, said Kabul was "very grateful" to the Obama administration for "this new strategy for victory."

"The Afghan government is committed to working with the US and our allies to implement this strategy," Jawad said in a statement while adding: "We ask our NATO allies, major donors and the friends of Afghanistan to collaborate with the strategy's implementation by providing the resources it will need."

Jawad praised Obama for drafting a "comprehensive" strategy with "input and insights of diverse voices."

Earlier, Obama ordered 4,000 extra troops and a major boost in the civilian presence in Afghanistan, vowing to "disrupt, dismantle, and defeat" the Al-Qaeda extremist network.

Obama also pledged a major effort, including through a spike in economic assistance, to bring stability to Pakistan, warning that its Afghan border regions had turned into "the most dangerous place in the world." (ANI)