Search the Internet          Tips  Links: Terror in America

Pak working hard to help US in war against terrorism: Rumsfeld

The United States has said that its troops will not cross the Afghan-Pakistan border to prevent Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters from getting sanctuary in tribal areas as Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and his forces 'are working very hard to help us stop them from coming across'.

"President Musharraf has been enormously cooperative. He has put forces along that border. He has been cooperative in every respect that we have requested of him. It is a very rugged, difficult border," Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said at the Pentagon on Monday.

He pointed out that Iran has not been doing what Musharraf and the Pakistanis have been doing - "Indeed, quite the contrary."

"There is no doubt at all that people have been moving back and forth across that (Iranian-Afghan) border to the great disadvantage of the interim government of Afghanistan and the Afghan people," said Rumsfeld.

Meanwhile, the US has said that it is for Pakistani courts to decide on the legality of the referendum that President Musharraf reportedly wants to hold to confirm his rule for another five years.

State department spokesman Richard Boucher on Monday said the US has made it clear that restoration of democratic civilian rule is critical to Pakistan's political and economic development.

It is important that Pakistan follows constitutional procedures with the legality of particular actions such as referendum to be decided by the courts, Boucher said.

Analysts in the US noted that the indication in Pakistan of Musharraf's intention to hold a referendum to make himself an elected president has put Americans on the horns of a dilemma.

Though they view support for Musharraf as essential to safeguard US interests, the referendum proposal has not gone down well with them, the analysts added.

PTI

More reports on Pakistan

America's War on Terror: The Complete Coverage
The Attack on US Cities: The Complete Coverage

The Terrorism Weblog: Latest Stories from Around the World

External Link:
For further coverage, please visit www.saja.org/roundupsept11.html

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report