US will root out Qaeda: Obama

Country will target militants in any part of the world, says President

“It should now be clear. The US and our partners have sent an unmistakable message: We will target al-Qaeda wherever they take root; we will not yield in our pursuit and we are developing the capacity and the cooperation to deny a safe haven to any one who threaten America and its allies,” Obama said on Tuesday in his remarks at the National Counter terrorism Centre in McLean, Virginia.

Obama said al-Qaeda and its extremist allies threaten the US from different corners of the globe — not only from Pakistan, but also from East Africa and Southeast Asia; from Europe and the Gulf.

“That’s why we’re applying focused and relentless pressure on al-Qaeda — by sharing more intelligence, strengthening the capacity of our partners, disrupting terrorist financing, cutting off supply chains, and inflicting major losses on al-Qaeda’s leadership,” he said.

Obama observed that it is not enough to destroy the network of al-Qaeda but the militant outfit should be wiped out completely to build a safe future. “It must be about the future that we want to build as well. And that’s why we’re putting forward a positive vision of American leadership around the world — one where we lead by example, and engage nations and peoples on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect,” he said.

‘Pak First’ approach
In response to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and in an effort to dissipate anger on its Afghan policy at the domestic front, the Obama administration is considering a “Pakistan First” approach to the problem in the region, a leading US daily said. The “Pakistan First” approach is championed by Vice President Joe Biden, The Washington Post said on Wednesday.

“One of the ideas the Obama administration is considering in response to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan reportedly is called ‘Pakistan First’,” it said.
“Championed by Vice President Biden, the idea is to focus US efforts on attacking al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan’s tribal areas with drones or Special Forces, while backing the government’s efforts to pacify and develop the lawless areas where al-Qaeda and the Taliban are based,” the Post said.

The battle against Taliban in Afghanistan would be put on the back burner, it said, adding the “Pakistan First” would excuse President Obama from having to anger his political base by dispatching the additional US troops that his military commanders say are needed to stop Taliban’s resurgence. “It would nominally focus US efforts on a nuclear-armed country that is of far greater strategic importance,” it said.