Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari warned that the international community was losing the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to an interview published on Tuesday.
Mr Zardari also criticised those who cast doubt on Pakistan’s commitment to fighting militants, before he visits Britain which has warned Islamabad against promoting “the export of terror”.
“I believe the international community, which Pakistan belongs to, is in the process of losing the war against the Taliban,” he told Le Monde newspaper. “And that is, above all, because we have lost the battle for hearts and minds.”
On the last day of a visit to France, Mr Zardari said such fears would undermine international efforts against terrorism, adding that he would take up outspoken comments made by British Prime Minister David Cameron when they meet on Friday.
“It is unfortunate that certain individuals continue to express doubts and fears about our determination to fight militants to the end,” Mr Zardari was quoted as saying in a statement.
“Such fears will only weaken the international effort to fight militants and extremists,” said the statement issued by Mr Zardari’s office before he met France’s foreign minister.
—Reuters