Richard Holbrooke worried Pakistan – Taliban deal
United States: Richard Holbrooke the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed concern over a deal Pakistani authorities reached with pro-Taliban militants in the Swat valley in north-western Pakistan.
The US president Obama already warns Pakistan government for is act with militants and he mention the Pakistan is a safe haven for militants. Now this complete surrender makes worry him.
Holbrooke said, the agreement allows the imposition of Sharia law in the region in return for an end to the Taliban insurgency. He added US worried it might "become a surrender". The Pakistani local person welcomes the Pakistan deal with pro-Taliban, but critics see it as a capitulation to the Taliban.
The NATO is alarmed due to this deal. Mr Holbrookehad discussed this issue with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari in a telephone call. He added Mr Zardari had assured him the deal was temporary and aimed at stabilizing the troubled Swat region.
Holbrooke said, "It is hard to understand this deal in Swat," He added,"I am concerned, and I know Secretary (of State Hillary) Clinton is, and the president is, that this deal, which is portrayed in the press as a truce, does not turn into a surrender.
"President Zardari has assured us it is not the case," he added, pointing out that the Pakistani president had described it as "an interim arrangement".
"He does not disagree that people who are running Swat now are murderers, thugs and militants and they pose a danger not only to Pakistan but to the US as well," Mr Holbrooke said.
He said "I can assure you, and President Zardari knows this, that this will be the top initial subject of conversation."
India is also not happy with this, On Tuesday Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee confirmed India’s official unhappiness and refuse Pakistan’s peace deal with the Taliban in Swat valley.
Due to this deal Taliban’s are now just 500 kilometers from the Indian borders. They already warn India, for further Mumbai 26/11 style attacks, they may soon target Western cultural centers in India, the Intelligence sources said. Now the Taliban threat cannot be underestimated. The Lashkar-e-Taiba also reports the unhappy for Pakistan’s complete surrender with India and US for Mumbai 26/11 terror attack.