Traces of extremists in FATA ‘critical’, says US

WASHINGTON: US state department spokesman Robert Wood has said that the existence of extremist elements in the FATA Pakistan is a critical issue and added there are emerging some particular tensions about security and intelligence issues there between the U.S. and Pakistan. To a question he said, “Well, for one thing, I don’t talk about intelligence issues from here. But certainly, in terms of dealing with extremism, extremist elements that are operating on Afghanistan’s border, in the FATA – look, this is a very complex issue.” “You know, we want to work with Pakistan and we have been working with Pakistan as best we can to support them in their efforts to fight extremists. We’re going to continue to do so”, he remarked asking, “Will there be differences of opinion from time to time on how we move forward? Yes. We do agree on a lot of the ways forward.” But this is normal in this type of relationship, particularly when you’re dealing with very difficult, thorny issues, he added. Robert Wood said, Ambassador Holbrooke, Admiral Mullen, they both had very, very good meetings in Pakistan with a number of officials. Despite what you read in the media about there not having been a meeting between Ambassador Holbrooke and Admiral Mullen and Director Pasha and General Kiyani. That was not true. They did meet. And so they were good, very constructive meetings.