Obama aide non-committal on Af-Pak policy

Washington: It is "too early" to gauge the success of the new Af-Pak policy of the Obama Administration, the US National Security Advisor has said, hoping that all concerned nations will meet their shared responsibility to ensure that the region turns to the right direction.

Speaking at a meeting of the Atlantic Council on Wednesday, General (rtd) James Jones also praised Pakistan for its recent military offensive against the Taliban.

"We are happy to see in Pakistan a new and comprehensive -- and so far impressively successful -- effort by the Pakistani army to react to its challenge by its extremists and have noted that they are also handling a growing refugee problem with great skill," he said.
     
General Jones headed the Atlantic Council - an American think-tank -- before joining the Obama Administration. Responding to a question, Jones said it "is too early to tell" about the success of the new strategy of US President Barack Obama with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"I think we're in the process of implementing the strategy that was developed over the first couple of months in the administration. The elements of that strategy is, A, that it's regional. It's not just about Afghanistan or Pakistan. It's about the region," he said.

"It calls upon the government of Afghanistan and Pakistan to do more and to be cognizant of the penalties for failing to act responsibly and with leadership," Gen Jones said.

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It calls upon the world community, the countries who actually have commitments in the region to really understand that, while the US is reaching out and engaging in greater dialogue and  discussion, that there is an expectation that nations will meet their shared responsibility in making sure that this region turns into the right direction, he asserted.

Expressing satisfaction over the ongoing Pak military action, he said: "I am heartened by the recent activities of the Pakistani army and the Pakistani government."

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The response by the military so far has the support of the Pakistani people. The government's popularity has shot up a little bit in the polls, and that is going to have an effect in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.

"I'm hoping that everyone that signed on the dotted line and embraced the strategy, after numerous consultations globally with our friends and allies, involving also the Pakistani government and the Afghan government in the process, will result in greater ownership and a greater sense of responsibility as we go down this trail," the National Security Advisor said.