Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 20, 2009.
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Taliban-threat-to-US-Pak-India-Zardari/articleshow/4159871.cms
[Note from the Hindu Vivek Kendra: Instead
of fighting the danger posed by Taliban, Zardari has actually succumbed to
the blackmail. Also, the armed forces of Pakistan is still nurturing the menace
of Taliban.]
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has acknowledged
that Taliban, with whom his government reached a truce deal in the restive
Swat valley days ago, are "murderous thugs and militants" who "pose
a danger to Pakistan, the US and India".
US Special Representative to Afghanistan and
Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, who is just back from Pakistan, told CNN here:
"He (Zardari) doesn't disagree that the people who are running Swat now
are murderous thugs and militants and they pose a danger not only to Pakistan,
but to the United States and India".
When specifically asked if Zardari gave him
any commitment, Holbrooke, who conveyed Washington's concern to Zardari on
telephone, said: "That I don't know. But the issue isn't whether he signs
the deal or not, the issue is the negotiations themselves."
The United States has conveyed strong concern
to Zardari over the truce deal with a Taliban-linked group for enforcing Shariah
law in the restive Swat Valley.
President Barack Obama and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton are worried that this deal should not turn into a surrender
to the Taliban militants, Holbrooke told Zardari in a telephonic conversation.
Holbrooke said the US is worried over the
peace deal as it gives the Taliban the authority in a critically important
part of the country.
