Kerry rules out use of US troops on Pakistani soil in fight against Taliban

Washington, Oct 27(ANI): U.S. Senator from Massachusetts John Kerry has said that the Obama administration would not send its troops to combat militants on Pakistani soil.

Kerry also emphasized that it is a fight that the Pakistanis have to engage in and fight out, asserting that Islamabad can best overcome militant challenges through a homegrown approach.

"We're not going to send troops by any significant numbers of any kind to Pakistan. We may have some people training or helping if that's something they (Pakistanis) decide they want," The News quoted Kerry, as saying.

"This is a country with a history and with an ability to be able to deliver - in some cases more rapidly than others. They now need to get coordinated. Our hope is that they are now getting on the track and beginning to make the commitments necessary to win back their own country," he added.

He also said the Obama administration is working towards strengthening Pakistan's ability to control economic or security challenges.

"Pakistan is going to determine - the outcome is going to be determined by the Pakistanis themselves making a choice about whether or not they are going to stand up to the Taliban and assert their democratic values. I believe they will. I think they are," Kerry said.

"I think the White House is trying to figure out the best ways in which to empower them to do that. It can't be an American-driven policy. It can't have an American imprint or footprint. This really has to be homegrown, and that's what we're really working with the Pakistanis to achieve." He added.

Kerry further said that the U.S. is working to provide assistance to Pakistan in order to empower them to undertake efforts to enforce security in their country.

"They (Pakistan) need help. They need economic assistance. They need the ability to be able to deliver to their citizens. No government can win the support of its people if it isn't meeting the needs of its people," he said. (ANI)