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Pakistan not safe unless Qaeda disposed of: Hillary

* Top diplomat admits trust deficit between US and Pakistan, calls for differences to be put aside
* Vows to provide military assistance, facilitate reconstruction in affected areas

By Sajjad Malik

ISLAMABAD: As rescue workers searched for more bodies in the wreckage of one of the country’s biggest bomb attacks in Peshawar on Wednesday, visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Pakistan would never escape terror without disposing of Al Qaeda.

“We don’t know where, and I have no information that they know where, but this is a big government... Somebody, somewhere in Pakistan must know where these people [Al Qaeda operatives] are... and we’d like to know because we view them as really at the core of the terrorist threat that threatens Pakistan, threatens Afghanistan, threatens us, threatens people all over the world,” Clinton told radio journalists. “I think it is absolutely clear and I am convinced that you will never rid Pakistan of the threat of terrorism unless you rid it of Al Qaeda,” she said, adding that a serious blow could be dealt to the group if its leaders were captured or killed.

Military assistance: The secretary of state vowed that the US would not only provide military assistance for the success of the Waziristan operation, but would also cooperate in the reconstruction of the affected areas. Hillary said she was visiting Pakistan to reiterate America’s commitment to a long-term partnership with Pakistan. She acknowledged that there was a trust deficit between the two sides, but called for differences to be put aside. She said her country wanted to be an “active partner” of the democratic government, and the two countries had a broad agenda that went beyond the security domain.

The top US diplomat said the army was doing an excellent job in South Waziristan, and the offensive had sent “a very good message”. She, however, cautioned that remnants of terrorist networks being trained and equipped by Al Qaeda could strike again, and “we will have to remain vigilant”.

With the country engaged in an operation against the Taliban, she said Pakistan had its own priorities in tackling terrorism, but “we would have to defeat Al Qaeda to win the war on terror”. Hillary also addressed an all-female gathering on the final day of her first three-day visit to Pakistan which ended with a series of public meetings and candid interactions.

Female TV anchors conducted the “town hall” style meeting. The anchors put hard questions, and one asked Hillary to justify drone attacks. Another said whether she equated the drone attacks with terrorist attacks. “No. Certainly not,” said Hillary, but refused to give a straight answer.

Another anchor told Secretary Clinton, “It is not our war ... it is your war. You had just one 9/11, we are having 9/11s daily in Pakistan.”

Hillary vowed to “turn a new page” in relations. At another meeting with tribal elders, Hillary faced vociferous criticism of the “blatant” use of force by the US forces, and said, “I certainly agree that negotiations are important, and we believe that violence will end.” “We are aware of NWFP’s problems... we have given (assistance) for them, and I am here to learn what more can be done,” she said.

Hillary asked the elders to leave the past behind and “turn on a new page” in mutual relations. Hillary also interacted with parliamentarians from main political parties, and again faced a barrage of question on drone attacks, conditions in the Kerry-Lugar bill and other issues. She pledged support for democracy, and said the US was committed to working with Pakistan.

At the roundtable with radio journalists, she said that assistance announced by her for the power and education sectors and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was in addition to the aid announced in the Kerry-Lugar bill. Hillary also visited Police Line Headquarter along with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, and paid tribute to police officers.

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