The US State Department praised on Monday the armed forces of Pakistan, in particular reference with the operation in tribal areas, saying "they are relentless, they are committed, and they are making a difference. "We have high praise and great appreciation and I think respect and admiration for what the Pakistani forces are doing in the areas - in their territory to take the fight to the terrorists in Waziristan and in the other parts of the country where terrorists are active. They have lost many of their own men."
Deputy spokesman, Adam Ereli said this in response to a question at the daily Press briefing.
The newsman asked him to comment on the visit of President Musharraf and his meetings with President Bush and call on by Secretary Powell, over the weekend and the claim that Pakistan has withdrawn troops from tribal areas on the border between Afghanistan-Pakistan.
Ereli said, there have been a lot of reports about things being in a pause or being toned down.
"I think those are speculation based on incomplete understanding and neglect to ignore the big picture, which is that Pakistan, under Musharraf, and the Pakistani people are committed and fully engaged in taking the fight to terrorists."
Referring to the stakeout remarks of Secretary Powell after his meeting with President Musharraf at Mayflower hotel on Saturday, Ereli said: "I don't really have much to add to what the secretary said about his talks with President Musharraf over the weekend and to what was put out by the White House."
"There was a number of readouts both on the record and on background given, again, over the weekend. I think those addressed the questions you pose. I would take issue with, you know, the notion that somehow there's a big problem area.
"To the contrary. I think that we have high praise and great appreciation and I think respect and admiration for what the Pakistani forces are doing in the areas, in their territory to take the fight to the terrorists in Waziristan and in the other parts of the country where terrorists are active. They have lost many of their own men. They are relentless, they are committed, and they are making a difference. There have been a lot of reports about things being in a pause or being toned down. Pakistan, under Musharraf, and the Pakistani people are committed and fully engaged in taking the fight to terrorists."
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