“War Lost In Afghanistan”: Says Pakistan President Asif Zardari
Aug 4th, 2010 | no responses
Close on the heels of the WikiLeaks comes yet another shock for the US Administration. This time from America’s so-called “closest ally in its war against terror” in Afghanistan. In an interview to France-based daily newspaper Le Monde, President Asif Zardari of Pakistan had said, “the international community, of which Pakistan is a part, is losing the war against the Taliban because we have lost the battle for hearts and minds.”
Taken aback by this strong comment, the White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama, who had earlier said progress was being made in Afghanistan, would not agree with Zardari’s conclusion, reports The Time of India.
” ‘Well, I don’t think the (US) President would agree with President Zardari’s conclusion that the war is lost. I haven’t seen the interview. I don’t know why he’s come to that conclusion,’ Gibbs told reporters.
“President Zardari had said, military reinforcements are only a small part of the response. To win the support of the Afghan population, you must bring economic development and prove you can not only change their lives, but improve them’.
“The Wikileak documents suggested that Pakistan’s spy agency ISI continues to play a role in supporting Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, even as the US continues to route billions of dollars in funds to Islamabad in the war against terror…”
Obama and Zardari seem to have joined a debating club. It would have been enjoyable but for the fact that hundreds and thousands of innocent lives, both Afghan and American, are being lost as these politicians attempt one-upmanship.
Americans rank President Obama’s handling of the Afghan war even lower than his stewardship of the economy, new poll says. Only 36% backed Obama’s war policies, down from 48% in February, compared with his 39% rating on the economy, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll released Tuesday. More here…
Meanwhile a Taliban suicide squad armed with bombs and rockets attacked the largest US military base in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, leaving one NATO soldier and two civilians injured. More here…
“President Zardari is right: we have lost the Afghan War and Dave (British prime minister) is pathetically in denial,” writes Gerald Warner in The Telegraph. See here…
Last year Congress approved a mammoth $7.5 billion foreign aid package for Pakistan–one that places only nominal oversight, and virtually no limitations, on Pakistan’s use of American taxpayer dollars. More here>>>
