Washington: In view of the advances made by the US forces in southern part of Afghanistan and arrest of the top Taliban leaders in Pakistan, a top Obama administration
official has said that the United States is making significant advances in the Af-Pak region.
"This is expressly the kind of decisive action that we sought in our strategy from the outset, that has been the basis upon which we have worked with Afghanistan, worked with Pakistan," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs PJ Crowley said.
"I think you're showing the results of the strategy in that clearly, we are making significant gains here. No one's declaring victory. This still is an adversary of the United States, Afghanistan, and Pakistan that adapts as we do as well," Crowley said.
"But as to what conclusions those who are associated with political violence will draw from this, that is expressly why we have included in our strategy the concept of reintegrating those who are currently engaged in the fight, who would be willing to lay down their arms, disassociate themselves from al Qaeda and accept the Afghan constitution or the rule of law in Pakistan," he said.
"As to what happens on the reconciliation front, we're not too far down that road at this point. But these will ultimately be decisions made by the Afghan leadership on their side, the Pakistani leadership on their side," Crowley said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 26, 2010, 13:29