Pak understands threat comes from extremism: Patraeus
Pakistan has understood that the "existential threat" to the country is posed by the extremists and moving its troops from the Indian border signifies a change in the threat perception by the country's leadership, a top American General has said.
"There have been shifts as they have announced forces from India to the West. And in some cases, those are very important shifts that have taken place. And the reason I mention it is because it reflects their assessment of this threat," General David Patraeus, Commander of the US Central Command, said at a think-tank briefing on Thursday.
He said: "In Pakistan, there is no question I think at this point that the Pakistanis see very clearly the existential threat that is posed to their country by the extremists."
For the past few months, the Obama Administration has been trying to impress upon the leadership in Pakistan that they face major threat from inside and not from India.
Petraeus, through his presentation at the think-tank, indicated that Pakistan now apparently agrees with the US view point in this regard.
Referring to the military action by Pakistan against militants in the Swat Valley, General Petraeus said: "These have been quite impressive operations. I think Pakistan deserves some significant credit for it."
Having been in Pakistan a couple of weeks ago and interaced with the leaders there, the concepts are solid, and the execution is on track, he said.
The United States, he said, is not providing direct assistance to combat, but is providing a variety of security assistance, coalition support funding and recently alloted $447 million.
"What I am trying to highlight here is the very clear recognition of counterinsurgency concepts by not just the Pakistani military but by a much more whole-of-government approach, if you will," he said referring to the conversations he has had with the Pak Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani.
Praising the military action against militants in the Swat Valley, General Petraeus said: "Now, the challenge is going to be, of course, what do you do long term about the police, in particular, I think is going to be a real difficult one, because under the pressure of the Taliban, under the pressure of any counterinsurgency, the police are always the most vulnerable."
As a result, he said, they are going to have to be substantially shored up and assisted as they are ultimately reintroduced and so ultimately they can draw down.
"But I think there is an expectation of a need to keep military forces there for some substantial time, and that is a very good recognition, certainly in my view," he said.