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Winning war on terror Bush’s top priority, says Powell

* Powell recognises Pakistan’s contribution
* Says Musharraf’s leadership, security cooperation led to arrest of 500 Qaeda, Taliban men

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday that President George W Bush’s “top foreign policy priority” was winning the war on terrorism in which Pakistan had supported America by apprehending more than 500 Al Qaeda and Taliban activists.

Testifying before the House International Relations Committee on President George W Bush’s budget request for fiscal year 2005, Mr Powell counted the capture of Al Qaeda and Taliban activists by Pakistan among the “many counter-terrorism successes in cooperating countries and international organizations”.

He attributed the apprehension in Pakistan of Qaeda and Taliban activists to President Pervez Musharraf’s leadership, strong border security measures and law enforcement cooperation.

The secretary of state said President Bush had established a clear policy to work with other countries in the war against terror to meet the challenges of defeating terror networks with global reach.

He said that commitment extended to the frontline states that had joined the US in the war against terrorism and to the nations who were key to the successful transition to democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Our assistance enables countries cooperating closely with the US to prevent future attacks, improve counter-terrorism capabilities and tighten border controls,” he added.

Mr Powell said the 2005 budget for international affairs provides more than $5.7 billion for assistance to countries that have joined America in the war on terrorism, including Pakistan, Turkey, Jordan, Afghanistan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

“US assistance has also resulted in unparalleled law enforcement and intelligence cooperation that has destroyed terrorist cells, disrupted terrorist operations and prevented attacks,” the US secretary of state said.

“Forty-eight percent of the president’s budget for foreign affairs directly supports that priority by assisting our allies and strengthening the United States’ diplomatic posture. For example: $1.2 billion supports Afghanistan reconstruction, security and democracy building, and more than $5.7 billion is provided for assistance to countries around the world that have joined us in the war on terrorism and $3.5 billion indirectly supports the war on terrorism by strengthening our ability to respond to emergencies and conflict situations,” Mr Powell added.

“$190 million is aimed at expanding democracy in the greater Middle East, in part to help alleviate the conditions that spawn terrorists,” Mr Powell added.

He went on, “Winning on the battlefield with our superb military forces is just one step in defeating terrorism. To eradicate terrorism, the US must help create stable governments in nations that once supported terrorism, go after terrorist support mechanisms as well as terrorists themselves, and help alleviate conditions in the world that enable terrorists to bring in new recruits.” He said the US president’s 2005 International Affairs Budget for the Department of State, USAID and other foreign affairs agencies added up to $31.5 billion.

The allocated finances include $21.3 billion for Foreign Operations, $8.4 billion for State Operations and $1.2 billion in food aid. —APP

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