Pakistan President: Approves Of Holbrooke, Wants Financial Partnership To Stabilize Pakistan

Washingtonpost.com:

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan looks forward to a new beginning in its bilateral relationship with the United States. First, we congratulate Barack Obama and the country that had the character to elect him, and we welcome his decision to name a special envoy to Southwest Asia. Appointing the seasoned diplomat Richard Holbrooke says much about the president's worldview and his understanding of the complexities of peace and stability and the threats of extremism and terrorism. Simply put, we must move beyond rhetoric and tackle the hard problems.

Pakistan has repeatedly been identified as the most critical external problem facing the new administration. The situation in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India is indeed critical, but its severity actually presents an opportunity for aggressive and innovative action. Since the end of the Musharraf dictatorship, Pakistan has worked to confront the challenges of a young democracy facing an active insurgency, within the context of an international economic crisis. Ambassador Holbrooke will soon discover that Pakistan is far more than a rhetorical partner in the fight against extremism. Unlike in the 1980s, we are surrogates for no one. With all due respect, we need no lectures on our commitment. This is our war. It is our children and wives who are dying.

Read the whole story: Washingtonpost.com

Comments

[mergina]

04:24 PM on 01/28/2009

Join with us to rid your country of the Taliban and bin laden and we'll consider it. Otherwise, NO WAY.

[CatoTheCensor]

03:59 PM on 01/28/2009

Pakistan's problems are daunting, and not of Zardari's making. He's inherited them, much as Obama has inherited the crises of his predecessor. This may represent a legitimate chance to stabilize Pakistan and the region, and that isn't a thing to be taken lightly.

Pakistan's children need to be able to go to school without the fear of being killed by the Pakistani Taliban. That's a cause vastly more worthwhile than anything we've pursued in Iraq, these last several years.

[mesmorize3]

01:13 PM on 01/28/2009

This democratic, peaceful and secular neighbor should let the Kashmiris have their plebiscite as sanctioned by the UN?

[Hnorc]

12:02 PM on 01/28/2009

I guess they realized Mushareff embezzled most of the previous dollars and they want their share too.

[lunchlady]

11:36 AM on 01/28/2009

Sorry guys, we seem to be out of money. Maybe if you can help manage the Taliban and the terrorists within your borders and show how you spent the last big wad of money.

[Simbalay]

10:58 AM on 01/28/2009

Right. He needs those funds just like every other instance we've give them money. So they it could go pad the Generals salaries and buy weapons to wield against their democratic, peaceful and secular neighbor.

Don't these people have any pride? India is on track to becoming an economic and military power and the pkstan are still having their hands out like a beggars. What a sad and dangerous failed state. First defang them and then talk about sending billions.

[mesmorize3]

01:14 PM on 01/28/2009

This democratic, peaceful and secular neighbor should let the Kashmiris have their plebiscite as sanctioned by the UN?

[Simbalay]

01:50 PM on 01/28/2009

You make my point. So fixated on India you can't see you're drowning in your own filth begging the world to bail you out.