Nato officials termed Zardari address ‘dramatic’: cable

KARACHI: Nato’s international staff action officer had jeeringly described as ‘dramatic’ the way in which President Asif Ali Zardari discussed the things at a meeting with Nato officials at a meeting held on June 17, 2009, according to a cable released by WikiLeaks on Saturday.

The cable said that President Zardari seemed to have came to the meeting without preparation and used up most of his limited time speaking in an emotional manner on matters that should have been taken up with the European Union and the United Nations.

He was of the view that the international community had wasted 8 years in fighting against the violent terrorism without taking the Pakistani people on board. The Nato forces are not specially trained for the war against extremism, he said, adding Pakistani forces would have to fight this battle.

He said although Pakistan became part of the war on terror, it now needed additional resources. Pakistan should have its own drones that fly under its flag, he added.

President Zardari also urged the international community to make a pledge that they would not allow any dictator to take charge of Pakistan.

He said the war against extremism could not be won only through democracy.