Pakistan government understands now the potential threat
“It is right now a country within which there are some of the extremist elements. That is not unique to Pakistan, but they exist.
“I think Pakistan government understands now the potential threat that exists within their own border. Lot more Pakistanis were killed by terrorists inside Pakistan than probably anywhere else... I think there is a growing recognition but it is something that does not happen overnight,” he said, quite endorsing Pakistan’s argument that it was a “victim” of terror trying hard to rein in the extremist elements within. Even though Mr Obama conceded that the progress in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism within its borders was not as “quick as we would like,” he reiterated the US commitment to work with Pakistani government to eradicate terrorism, “ a cancer that can potentially engulf the country.”
"Our feeling has been to be honest and forthright with Pakistan to say we are your friend, this (extremism) is a problem and we will help you but the problem has to be addressed," he said. “There are going to be some elements in Pakistan that are affiliated with Taliban, Al Qaeda and LeT. These are the organisations, these extremists...they are irreconcilable. They will be there and there will need to be a military response to those,” the US president said while
yesterday pointing out that though Pakistan Army was trying to tackle them in NWFP areas, it was finding it difficult as it was not trained to fight in such conditions.
