Haqqani says new US strategy has better prospects to deliver

Washington, Mar. 30 (ANI): Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani has welcomed the new US anti-terrorism by saying the plan has better prospects to deliver than the previous military-focused unilateral approach.

"I think the chances of this strategy (announced by US President Barack Obama on Friday) working are far better than the purely military strategy of the past. It has a socio-economic component, a political component, and it has a military and intelligence component," the Daily Times quoted Haqqani, as saying.He said Islamabad would work closely with Washington to weed out terrorism.

"Pakistan is a victim of terrorism as well as a country that has been mired in terrorism. In the past, Pakistan was asked to do more without helping Pakistan to do more. Now Pakistan has sacrificed a great deal," he said.

Appreciating US economic aid, Haqqani said there is no military solution to the problem of terrorism.

"They have recognized the fact that there is no military solution to the problem of terrorism and extremism. And they want us all engaged. So I hope that we can all work together as partners," he said.

Furthermore, he said the focus of Islamabad would be to "rebuild the Pakistani society, provide jobs to our people, build the capacity of our army for counterinsurgency and most important we want to have intelligence capabilities that would enable us to work together with Afghanistan and NATO forces to ensure that the Taliban and Al Qaeda do not carry on their business".

Haqqani said it was in Pakistan's interest to end terrorism more than anyone.

US might have the option of pulling out of the region if the strategy did not work well, but Pakistan and Afghanistan and other neighbors "cannot change their geography", he said. (ANI)