Obama to Pak: No use of insurgents as ‘strategic’ tool

Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi-operational commander of LeT

Washington: In what is being touted as a ''stern message'' to Pakistan, the United States, it would appear, has asked Pakistan to shed its policy of "using insurgents" as a strategic tool and warned that if it cannot deliver against terrorists, the US may be compelled to use "any means" at its disposal. The message comes ahead of an impending decision by the American president to commit additional troops in Afghanistan.

The message, according to a report in The Washington Post, has been conveyed in a letter from US president Barack Obama to his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari.

If the stick has been waived, then, the carrot will also be dangled. The report says the letter also includes an offer by Obama to try to "reduce tensions" between India and Pakistan, and an offer to enhance strategic partnership with Pakistan if they act as suggested by the US.

Also on offer is additional military and economic aid.

The two-page letter was apparently hand-delivered by national security adviser General (retd) James Jones when he visited Islamabad early this month.

In his letter, Obama has warned Pakistan that its use of insurgent groups for policy goals "cannot continue" and calls for closer collaboration against all extremist groups. Five such groups have been named - al-Qaida, the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Tehrik-e-Taliban.