Changing attitudes in Pakistan?
Posted: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:53 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
State Dept.
From NBC’s Libby Leist
The Obama administration's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said today that Taliban offenses in Pakistan are dramatically changing the attitude of the government and people there.
Holbrooke mentioned the bombing of the Pearl Hotel in Peshawar yesterday by "some terrorists" as an example.
Video: Suicide attackers launched an assault on a luxury hotel commonly used by foreigners Tuesday night, setting off a huge blast that killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens more. NBC's Brian Williams reports. "My impression is that this is enraging the population,” he said. “It's not going to work provided the government gives the necessary security.”
Holbrooke told reporters that the U.S. has been impressed by the actions of the Pakistani military, but the military knows the "test is still to come." He said the Pakistani government and military must be able to ensure the return of nearly two million refugees who were forced from their homes in the Swat Valley and provide security for them.
"Those camps and those temporary facilities cannot harden into a permanent refugee settlement, as has happened in so many other parts of the world," he stressed.
When asked if the military will be able to hold Swat, Holbrooke would not predict.
"Let's see," he said.
On a trip last week to Pakistan, Holbrooke visited two of the tent areas where refugees are living -- Shah Mansur in Swabi province and Sheikh Shahzad in Mardan province. He said he came away with the impression that the people were outraged.
"They really understand why the military came in," he said. "They want the Taliban out. They hate them, and they think they have destroyed this piece of heaven, which was Swat."
As a result of this, he said, the Pakistani military feels it has the support of the people for their operations.
"This is a daunting task for Pakistan, which is under so much economic pressure, has so many other problems, a short supply of energy, all the other issues which you're familiar with," he said.
Holbrooke reported that the conditions in tents were not good, but could be worse. Cholera has not yet hit and 80 to 90 percent of the people who have fled Swat are living in private houses or schools.
Holbrooke also stressed the need for more relief funds from other nations because the U.S., he said, is taking on too much of the burden. So far, the U.S. has contributed more than $310 million to the relief effort -- more than half of total international assistance, per Holbrooke's figures.
Video: Holbrooke calls for more international aid to help a growing refugee crisis in Pakistan. His visit comes as a suicide attack on a mosque in the country's northwest kills at least 30 people.
After his Pakistan stop, Holbrooke visited the Gulf states of Oman, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain to line up their support for relief and reconstruction efforts.
"This is a major, major crisis," he said.
