Expert talks of Pakistan role in new strategy

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Pakistan's role under the new U.S. Afghan strategy would depend on Islamabad's own priorities, a Pakistani expert said.

In an interview in Islamabad with China's official Xinhua news agency, retired Lt. Gen. Talat Masood said Pakistan and the United States have different priorities because of their differing national interests.

Even though the Americans want Pakistan to follow their national priorities, the general said: "(Pakistan) has to see which groups are harming Pakistan's interest and which are not doing so."

The Pakistani military currently is involved in an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban and other terror groups in its tribal South Waziristan bordering Afghanistan.

Masood told Xinhua Pakistan has not followed U.S. priorities in this campaign as the military has been targeting only hard-core militants of the Pakistani Taliban and trying to win the support of other tribal forces.

In announcing his Afghan strategy Tuesday, President Obama noted the "cancer" of extremism had taken root in the border region of Pakistan.

"We will strengthen Pakistan's capacity to target those groups that threaten our countries, and have made it clear that we cannot tolerate a safe-haven for terrorists whose location is known, and whose intentions are clear," Obama said.

Masood told Xinhua contrary to what the United States thinks, Pakistan has done a lot in the war against terrorism. He said if Pakistan is able to clear the "safe havens" of the militants in its tribal areas, it would be a big help to the U.S. forces in Afghanistan.