President Barack Obama met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday. During the meeting many issues were discussed including the forthcoming offensive against the Taliban in June and the progress in Pakistan.
Obama had positive things to say about the Asian country. He said that Pakistan had finally realized that their primary concern was terrorism and not perennial rival India. He termed the terrorism that was stemming from the midst of the country as a “cancer” and commended Pakistan for recognizing it as such.
Pakistan has been facing increasing pressure over the festering pockets of terrorist groups that are in widespread existence all over the country. Many terrorist plots have been traced back there including the infamous Mumbai attack and most recently the Times Square incident. The border regions of Pakistan are not rigorously controlled and as such have proven to be a safe haven for terrorists. President Obama acknowledged that although Pakistani leaders are moving in the right direction, control cannot be asserted overnight.
The Pakistan issue was related to the discussions Obama had with Karzai. They both seek an end to the bloodshed and terror that has been prevalent during the last decade. However, the offensive due to being in June to liberate Kandahar is not expected to be a walk in the park. Many casualties are expected on both sides. Pakistan will play a pivotal role in the process by not allowing the Taliban to take refuge there after an expected U.S. victory.