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March 28, 2009

Karzai Applauds New US Afghan Strategy
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Afghan president praises US plan during news conference Saturday, one
day after President Obama pledged more troops, greater emphasis on
regional diplomacy to defeat al-Qaida militants, their allies 
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai (File)Afghan President Hamid Karzai
is giving the new U.S. strategy for
Afghanistan and Pakistan a resounding endorsement - calling it
"exactly what the Afghan people were hoping for."Mr. Karzai praised the
U.S. plan during a news conference Saturday, adding that it is better
that what he had been expecting. The
Afghan leader's comments come one day after U.S. President Barack Obama
pledged more troops and a greater emphasis on regional diplomacy to
defeat al-Qaida militants and their allies, calling the situation in
both Afghanistan and Pakistan "increasingly perilous." As part
of the plan, 4,000 additional U.S troops will be sent to Afghanistan to
train Afghan armed forces, on top of the 17,000 new troops to be
deployed in the next months. Pakistani officials Friday also welcomed
the new strategy to stabilize the region. Pakistani
Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani said Pakistani territory will not be
allowed to be used for terrorist activities, which he said are carried
out by a "minority of extremists." President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed
Mr. Obama's initiatives to strengthen democracy in his country. The
U.S. president is calling on Congress to authorize $1.5 billion in
direct support to the Pakistani people every year over the next five
years, to improve infrastructure and strengthen Pakistan's democracy. In
the latest violence in Afghanistan, U.S. officials say American and
Afghan forces killed 12 militants during a raid on a compound in
southern Helmand province Friday night. And Afghan officials say police
killed two militants during a clash in Zabul province. Some information
for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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