'White Paper Of The Interagency Policy Group's Report On U.S. Policy Toward Afghanistan And Pakistan', World Security Network, 29 March 2009
EXCERPT: "The United States has a vital national security interest in addressing the current and potential security threats posed by extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Pakistan, al Qaeda and other groups of jihadist terrorists are planning new terror attacks. Their targets remain the U.S. homeland, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Europe, Australia, our allies in the Middle East, and other targets of opportunity. The growing size of the space in which they are operating is a direct result of the terrorist/insurgent activities of the Taliban and related organizations. At the same time, this group seeks to reestablish their old sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Therefore, the core goal of the U.S. must be to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its safe havens in Pakistan, and to prevent their return to Pakistan or Afghanistan. The ability of extremists in Pakistan to undermine Afghanistan is proven, while insurgency in Afghanistan feeds instability in Pakistan. The threat that al Qaeda poses to the United States and our allies in Pakistan - including the possibility of extremists obtaining fissile material - is all too real."
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See also:
'US pushes Afghan plan in The Hague this week', The Wall Street Journal, 30 March 2009
'The great Afghan bail out', Asia Times Online, 30 March 2009
'Obama's domino theory', Salon, 30 March 2009
'Obama Afghanistan, Pakistan new policy explained', Chicago Sun Times, 29 March 2009
'Aid comes at a price for "AfPak" leaders', The Independent, 29 March 2009
Related posts:
'Official: Mullah Omar in Afghanistan', 20 March 2009
'US: More view Afghan war as "mistake"', 17 March 2009
'Up to 15,000 Taliban in Afghanistan: Minister', 27 February 2009
'Bottom-up approach needed in Afghanistan: Report', 17 February 2009
'"The Taliban now holds a permanent presence in 72% of Afghanistan"', 8 December 2008
