Holbrooke assures full US support to curb terrorism, help IDPs

ISLAMABAD, Jun 3: Special representative of President Obama on Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke on Wednesday appreciated the military action in Swat and assured full US help and cooperation in war against terrorism and rehabilitation of ‘internal refugees.’ “We are committed to helping you strengthen democracy, to defeat militants in the west who threaten democracy in Pakistan, democracy in Afghanistan and stability throughout the region,” Holbrooke said at a news conference at the President House.

He also announced to increase the US assistance for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP),which he said were internal refugees, from dollar 110 million  to dollar 310 million  after the approval of the congress.

He said President Zardari, whom he met before talking to media, has requested for additional immediate assistance of dollar  200 million   for the IDPs.

Holbrooke is visiting Pakistan on special directive of President Obama to assess the damage caused due to military action in Malakand and review the rehabilitation measures for the IDPs.

Richard Holbrooke said President Obama has sent him to show the US concern to Pakistan on internal refugees, now in millions, who have added burden to the already burdened nation.

He assured that US will provide additional assistance to the government of Pakistan in its moments of need.

Referring to US assistance of 310 million dollars, which he said is half of world assistance, ambassador Holbrooke urged the international community to extend more help and cooperation to Pakistan in this regard.

He said special efforts have been made to involve Pak‑American community in relief efforts for IDPs and announced that 15 lady doctors are coming to Pakistan very soon to work in refugee camps.

Replying to a question about the use of American weapons by the terrorists in troubled areas of Malakand, he said it was a common phenomenon that during insurgencies such weapons are used.

About the military action in Swat and Malakand, he said Pakistan and US have same perception on the issue and action taken by Pakistan and military was necessary and essential. He said fighting is still going on and there is lot more to go.

Replying to another question, he said people living in the camps were fed up with militancy and extremism and wanted to get rid of these elements.

Ambassador Holbrooke said that reconstruction phase will be very important and very critical and assured full American help and support in this phase.

“I hope people of Pakistan will understand our country’s leading role in responding quickly in this need of hour. President Obama is personally involved in it as US really cares about Pakistan,” he added.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan is committed to defend its territory from the militants.

“We are committed to defend and wherever there is threat we will follow it,” President said in response to a question about military action in Waziristan and other areas.

Replying to a question about winning the war against militants, President Zardari said anything to say in this regard is too soon.

“We have war of ideology to fight. We have a war where we have hearts and minds to win. Once we have won hearts and minds of the people of the region, then I will say that we have progressed,” he added.

Earlier, foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi thanked the US for its support to Pakistan said that Pakistan was appreciative of this US gesture.

He said the present democratic government made sincere efforts to build national consensus and way forward to fight against militancy.

He said all the mainstream political parties have full support and backing to the fight against militancy in Swat and Malakand.

He said in just three weeks Pakistani military has succeeded in making the militants on the run.

Pakistani people, he added, has paid heavily in the human as well as economic terms.

“Under the dynamic leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, we will succeed in defeating terrorism extremism,” the foreign minister said.

(APP)