6 more brigades being sent to Swat

WASHINGTON - Pakistan has told the United States that it is sending an additional six army brigades to join a major government offensive against Taliban militants in the countrys northwestern region, The Washington Post reported Saturday, citing Pakistani and US officials.
But in an interview with the Washington Post reporters and editors, President Asif Ali Zardari did not confirm the movement of the brigades. However, the newspapers dispatch says others, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed they were moving from Punjab province and the countrys border with India.
But, on Friday night, speaking on PBS public television, Zardari said Pakistan had shifted an unspecified number of troops from its border with India to fight against the Taliban. We have already done so, Zardari said when asked why Pakistan would not move troops from the eastern front.
In the interview with the Washington Post, the president said domestic support for the offensive, combined with US assistance, would allow the effort to succeed where two previous military drives into the Swat Valley and surrounding territory failed.
The United States and Pakistan, Zardari said, had gotten to an understanding where we will be supported in all fields.
Earlier on Wednesday, during a White House meeting with President Zardari, Obama remarked that he thought they agreed that Pakistan needed more help. Congress has, meanwhile, questioned whether Pakistan will effectively use the billions in economic and military assistance President Obama has requested.
To aid in the attacks, the dispatch said the Pentagon is speeding spare parts, ammunition and other equipment for Pakistans fleet of ageing Cobra attack helicopters. An earlier Pakistani request for more Cobras, to add to its existing fleet of two to three dozen, has been slowed, officials said, by the fact that the helicopters are no longer in production and aircraft must be located and refurbished.
Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai travelled to Washington this week for separate meetings with Obama and for a tripartite summit that the administration hoped would improve relations between the South Asian neighbours.
Administration officials pronounced the White House meetings and separate sessions among senior Pakistani, Afghan and US intelligence, diplomatic, agriculture and other Cabinet-level officials - a success. But they cautioned that they would await follow-through on promises made by both leaders.
In the interview, Zardari described the $15 billion sent to Pakistan over the past decade in counter-terrorism reimbursements and direct assistance as only a small fraction of the funds provided recently to failing US financial institutions, adding that the situation in Pakistan is much more important. The Pakistani economy needs to be boosted, he said, with some form of a permanent stimulus.
Zardari said that no one in the US government had asked him for more information about the location and security of Pakistans nuclear arsenal. By and large, weve always had a relationship that is quite comfortable in the sense that people who need to know, know.
Asked if any American officials knew everything about Pakistans nuclear arsenal, he responded, Every country has a right to their own sovereignty. We dont ask you personal questions, and you dont ask us.
He said he continued to request that Pakistan be given its own fleet of US drones to attack Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries. Maybe some people here would not like to go to that direction, he said, but I keep asking.
He described his first interaction with President Obama as a very good start.
In the interview with PBS public television, the president said, This is an offensive - this is war. If they kill our soldiers, then we do the same.
Pressed on whether Pakistans stated goal of eliminating militants meant killing them, Zardari replied in the affirmative. Eliminate means exactly what it means.
In Washington Zardari also renewed his pledge to work for better relations with India, saying, Ive always considered India a neighbour, whom we want to improve our relationship with.
He also remarked, Weve had some cold times and weve had some hot times with them, but democracies are always trying to improve relationships.
Agencies add: President Zardari said that the PPP-led government in Pakistan has resolved to bring reforms in the Madaris systems whereby the academic courses will be made rather advanced.
President Zardari asserted this during his address at the community dinner in Washington late on Friday.
President, on the occasion, also reiterated government commitment to continue with the military offensive against Talibanisation in Swat Valley and vowed to completely uproot insurgency from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, President Zardari has vowed to defeat militancy with an unflinching resolve as the government would not allow anybody to play with the fate of Pakistan and its people.
Addressing Pakistani American community in New York, President Zardari said the elected government tried path of dialogue to turn tide of militancy before launching ongoing operation (in Swat).
I ask the misguided elements not to harm the country and that we would not let you damage the homeland. This was the motivation behind our democracy and the recent peace agreement in Swat valley. The history will not judge that we did not adopt the option of dialogue with our own people.
We have accepted the difficult challenge of confronting the misguided people. We took the matter to the Parliament, we have given it political ownership, the president stressed.