Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 7, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/174531/Captured-video-shows-LTTE-using-civilians-as-forced-labour.html
After some tough talking, US President Barack
Obama today secured a fresh pledge from leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan
to "dismantle, disrupt and defeat" the al-Qaeda and Taliban while
promising to make "every effort" to avoid civilian casualties in
anti-insurgency operations.
Obama met Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari
and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai at the White House to forge a common
strategy to deal with a resurgent Taliban and threat from al-Qaeda, whose
leaders have found a safe haven in the two countries.
The US has a stake in the future of the two
countries, said Obama, who had last month expressed his "grave concern"
over the situation in Pakistan describing the civilian government there as
"very fragile" and lacking the capacity to deliver basic services.
After the trilateral summit today, Obama said
he was "pleased" that Zardari and Karzai fully appreciated the seriousness
of the threat and that they had reaffirmed their commitment to confronting
it.
"And I'm pleased that we have advanced
unprecedented cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan on a bilateral
basis -- and among Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States -- which will
benefit all of our people," Obama told reporters. said providing a detailed
description of the video on its website.
