Pakistani Envoy Details Efforts to Stabilize Tribal Areas

JIM LEHRER:

And finally tonight, Pakistan under review in Washington. Margaret Warner has that story.

MARGARET WARNER:

Senior national security officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan came to Washington this week to take part in the Obama administration's reassessment of U.S. policy toward both countries.

This strategic review was exploring how to carry out President Obama's vow to intensify U.S. efforts against al-Qaida and Taliban militants in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

Pakistani officials were invited to contribute their ideas earlier this month, even as the Pakistani government was reaching a deal that U.S. officials find disturbing. To get Taliban militants to agree to stop attacking Pakistan government forces in the Swat Valley, Pakistan agreed to let the Taliban bring Islamic rule to the former tourist region.

Pakistan's delegation here is headed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and he joins me now.

And, Minister Qureshi, welcome.

SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI, Foreign Minister, Pakistan:

Thank you.

MARGARET WARNER:

As you've been in these talks with the Obama officials, are you starting from the same page, in terms of how dire the situation is, vis-a-vis the growing strength of al-Qaida and Taliban militants in that western region?

SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI:

In my view, the strength of al-Qaida is not the same what it was perhaps a few years ago. In my view, they're weaker. Al-Qaida is weaker.

Taliban has been on the run because of the military operations being carried out in Pakistan in the tribal belt. We were able to take out some very important people and regain areas that they had established a foothold in. So my view is quite different from yours.